Naidu tapes: Police slap notice on channel

Adding yet another dimension to the "cash-for-vote" scam, the Andhra Pradesh Police issued notice to news channel T News for airing an audio tape of purported conversation between Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and nominated Telangana MLA Elvys Stephenson, sparking protests by media fraternity on Saturday.

The notice, served last night, asked the channel to reply within three days as to why appropriate legal action should not be initiated against it, contending the audio tape it aired was "defamatory".

"Since the programme telecast on June 7 at around 8.30 pm contained material disturbing the public tranquillity, affecting the maintenance of law and order as it in violation of Section 5 and Rule 6 of cable TV news network Act, as the programme is defamatory deliberate, false with suggestive innuendos and half-truths," the notice read.

The audio tape pertained to a purported talk between Naidu and the nominated MLA relating to alleged attempts by TDP to woo his support for the party nominee in Telengana Legislative Council polls.

Telangana TDP MLA Revanth Reddy and two others were arrested and remanded for allegedly trying to bribe the nominated MLA. The airing of the audio tape has led to a slugfest between the TDP and TRS, the ruling parties in Anhdra Pradesh and Telangana respectively.