The noose is tightening around TDP president Chandra Babu Naidu in the Cash for Vote scam. Nominated MLA Stephenson clearly mentioned in the statement given to Telangana ACB, that it was Chandra Babu Naidu, who spoke to him over phone and lured him with money.
MLA Elvis Stephenson had given this statement in front of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on 17th June. In the statement, he mentioned clearly the chain of events which led to the arrest of TDP MLA Revanth Reddy.
Stephenson’s statement mentions how he was first approached by a person named by Jerusalem Matthaiah, to abstain from the MLA voting. The initial amount offered to him was Rs 2 Crores. The nominated MLA also gave detailed information about how Revanth Reddy came into the picture on 30th May and said that TDP supremo Chandra Babu has himself sent him. The deal, as explained by Revanth Reddy, this time was for Rs 2.5 Crore to vote in favor of TDP MLC candidate Vem Narendar Reddy.
Stephenson’s statement also elaborated how ACB sleuths laid the trap, by putting I-Phones at strategic places in his home.
The statement has details of how a second meeting between Revanth Reddy and Stephenson took place at a friend’s place in Secunderabad on 31st May. The ACB had already put their equipment in this house too. An I-Phone was kept in Stephenson’s hand too, which was also recording the conversation. A third person then entered into the scene with a bag carrying Rs 50 lakhs. The ACB sleuths had nabbed both Revanth Reddy and his accomplice as they were getting ready to leave the house.
The latest statement by Stephenson would help nail TDP president Chandra Babu Naidu in the Cash for Votes scam.