'Bribery' charge against cong candidate: EC seeks report on video footage

Kozhikode: The Election Commission Thursday sought a report from the district electoral officer on a television video clipping purportedly showing Congress candidate and sitting MP M K Raghavan seeking Rs five crore for facilitating land acquisition for a real estate company.

Raghavan has alleged that the video was fabricated and said there was a larger conspiracy to frame him during the election season.

A Hindi news channel Wednesday had aired visuals as part of a sting operation purportedly showing the two-time Kozhikode MP allegedly negotiating a bribe for land acquisition in the city for opening a hotel.

Raghavan has already approached the district police chief and filed a complaint alleging that the video was fabricated.

"I have asked the district electoral officer (district collector) to submit a report on the matter," Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena told reporters.

 "The allegation is an attempt to tarnish my image during the election. The CPI(M) district committee is behind this sting. I cannot commit suicide," a sobbing Raghavan told a press conference Thursday.

The CPI(M) district committee has refuted the allegation.

Raghavan had on Wednesday said he would end his public life and withdraw his candidature if the allegations were proved to be correct.

In the video footage, the senior Congress leader is purportedly seen demanding bribe from two persons at his house and saying that around Rs 20 crore was required for the election campaign.

Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the video was a political stunt.

"This is a political stunt to tarnish the image of the Congress and the UDF candidate,"Chandy said.