Udupi: Sleaze CD - BJP to order probe, says it won't affect party's prospects

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)

Update: March 29

Udupi, Mar 29: In the wake of controversy surrounding Udupi BJP MLA Raghupati Bhat over a sleaze video that was released to media channels on Thursday March 28, BJP state president Prahlad Joshi said that a probe will be ordered into the incident.

Addressing reporters in Bangalore, Joshi raised suspicions about the authenticity of the video and said that an internal enquiry will be held before taking any further step. He brushed aside the possibility of the controversy spoiling BJP's chances in the upcoming Assembly elections.

On Bhat's decision not to contest in the elections, Joshi said that it was because of family reasons that Bhat had taken the decision, and had spoken about it some days back too.

BJP district president Udayakumar Shetty said that the BJP will stand by Raghupati Bhat as he has done a lot for the party as well for the district. He futher said the video was a conspiracy by those who want to see Bhat lose the forthcoming elections. "An appeal for high level probe as been made to the chief minister. Whoever is behind this conspiracy should be brought before the public," he said.

Meanwhile, TV channels were ordered by a Bangalore court not to telecast the video, based on a plea filed by Raghupati Bhat.

As per reports, the video, which shows that it was shot on February 11 this year, was shot in a Mumbai hotel, and the girl in the video is reportedly from Nepal. The hotel is owned by a Udupi industrialist, reports claimed.

It is also said that the clippings have been passed around on mobile phones in Udupi over the last few days. The video was said to be couriered to a TV channel from Bangalore.

Earlier Report

Sex CD row: Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat withdraws his candidature

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 28: Frustrated at the wide circulation of a CD showing him in sexual act with an unidentified woman, two-time Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat on Thursday March 28 announced his decision not to contest the next election.

Bhat, who was visibly annoyed, humiliated, and angry at the sudden loss of his stature and reputation by the CD, conveyed this decision to certain TV channels when contacted for his response on the CD on Thursday March 28. He said he has taken this decision in order to ensure that the party does not face any embarrassment on account of the latest salvo fired at him by his enemies to tarnish his image and end his political career.

In an official statement to the media, he said that he has decided not to contest in the upcoming Assembly elections owning to family, business and political reasons.

"But as a sincere worker of BJP, I will definitely support and help the BJP candidate from Udupi in winning the elections.

"Baseless allegations have been levelled against me. I am thankful to the party, party members and the public who believed in me and gave me an opportunity to serve them twice. I will continue to respond to people's problems and resolve them," he added.

In the past too, there were rumours that certain RSS leaders were against Bhat being fielded from Udupi this time, as they were apprehensive that the opposition parties might try to dent the image of the party by raking up the allegation of Bhat’s involvement in his wife, Padmapriya’s mysterious disappearance and subsequent suicide at a New Delhi apartment nearly four years ago.

The CD in question, which several media houses also have accessed, reportedly contains explicit sex scenes that cannot be aired. The channels said that both the partners video graphed therein seemed to have mutual consent. Bhat said he too got access to the said CD last night. Bhat added that he will hold extensive discussions with party workers in this connection.

“I am feeling hurt and humiliated, surprised and shocked. This is a heinous attempt at my character assassination. My reputation has been compromised. I am sure my political adversaries are behind this CD. I have not committed any mistake. This is part of a political conspiracy to finish off my career. In the past too, attempts were made to end my political career, but I survived because of popular support. I feel that no one from my party is behind this conspiracy. I demand for a high level probe into the origin of the CD and meting out of maximum possible punishment to the guilty. I will return to politics only after the completion of the investigation. I have no idea as of now as to who is behind this CD.  Those who manufactured this CD will definitely face the fruits of their evil action soon,” Bhat said.

It is almost certain that the timing of the release of CD has a lot to do with the approaching election. Bhat has too short a time in front of him to resurrect his image now by either proving the CD to be morphed, or by pinpointing the manufacturer of the CD, before the election. There are rumours that the party is mulling the prospects of fielding either the wife of the late Dr V S Acharya, or his son in place of Bhat from Udupi constituency, as the chances of Bhat entering the election fray this time are very bleak.

Editor's Note: Though daijiworld possesses a copy of the video, in keeping with journalistic ethics and with due respect to individual privacy, we have decided not to publish the video clip or images from the video, despite several requests from readers and the public.