In a sensational revelation, one of the key accused in the cash-for-vote scam Jerusalem Mathaiah has deposed before the Enforcement Directorate inquiring into the scam, pointing an accusing finger at Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
The ED authorities recorded his statement that he had indeed met Naidu and former TDP leader and present Congress MP from Malkajgiri A Revanth Reddy at Mahanadu party meeting in Himayatsagar in May 2015 on the suggestion of one R Jimmy Babu, another Christian leader.
Mathaiah told the ED authorities that Revanth Reddy, in the presence of Naidu had asked him to meet nominated Anglo-Indian MLA Elvis Stephenson and convince him to vote for then TDP candidate Vem Narender Reddy in the MLC elections to be held on June 1, 2015.
“Though I said it was unconstitutional and unethical, Revanth Reddy told me it was a very common practice in politics. He said if Stevenson voted for the TDP candidate in the MLC elections, the latter would be paid Rs 5 crore and if he abstained from voting, he would get Rs 3 crore. He also offered to pay me Rs 50 lakh as goodwill,” Mathaiah told the ED authorities.
Both Naidu and Revanth told Mathaiah that if Stevenson agreed to the offer, he would be paid Rs 50 lakh as an advance and remaining amount after voting.
“Next day, I visited the residence of Stevenson and told him about the offer. Initially, he did not believe the offer but later agreed to meet Revanth or Naidu or any other authorised person from TDP,” he said.
Later, Mathaiah confirmed the deal to Sebastian, in-charge of TDP Christian Cell and asked him to inform Naidu and Revanth.
“Sebastian further informed that after finishing the deal, the promised amount would be given to me,” he said.
Subsquently, Mathaiah came to know that Sebastian and Revanth had met Stevenson twice at the latter’s residence.
“Sebastian informed me that Naidu had also talked to Stevenson over phone. When I asked about my share in the money, they told me that it would be done once they paid Rs 50 lakh advance to Stevenson,” he said.
However, the following day, Mathaiah came to know that Revanth Reddy and others were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and that he (Mathaiah) was made Accused No. 4 in the case.
A panicky Mathaiah met Naidu’s son Lokesh to know his fate and the latter had advised him to go to Vijayawada, where he would get protection.
Mathaiah confirmed to the ED authorities that he had seen the video clippings of Revanth handing over cash to Stevenson and heard audio recordings of Naidu’s conversation with Stevenson.
