House panel chief says up to 10 more MLAs watched porn

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Chairman of the Legislature Committee probing the porngate episode involving three ruling BJP MLAs in Karnataka on Thursday said eight to ten other legislators had also watched sleazy clips in the Assembly.

Shrishailappa Bidarur, however, indicated these MLAs would not be summoned as it's not part of the terms of reference of the panel.

His comments confirm the claim by committee member Nehru Olekar who created a flutter earlier this month saying 8-10 more MLAs, including those from opposition parties, had also watched the pornclips.

Bidarur told reporters that the committee would submit its report to Assembly Speaker K.G. Bopaiah by March 20.

Lakshman Savadi, C.C. Patil and J. Krishna Palemar resigned as Ministers on February 7 a day after they were caught on camera watching porn clipping in the Assembly with regional TV channels telecasting their act which evoked public outrage.

"That may be eight to ten", Bidarur said when asked how many more MLAs had watched the adult content in the assembly.

"While viewing the CCTV (footage),it (eight to ten watching porn) came to the notice but yet the committee has not decided anything on that", he said.

"If necessary", Bidarur said when asked if these eight to ten MLAs would also be issued notice for deposition but later indicated it was unlikely, pointing out that the panel's terms of reference concerned 'about only these three people'.

The panel on Thursday called two top officials of the Law Department for consultations with regard to legal aspects of the case and 'what can be recommended', he said.

Bopaiah had constituted a seven-member House panel, comprising four members from BJP, two from the Congress and one from JDS to probe the episode, but the opposition had boycotted the committee alleging the move is an exercise to cover up the scandal.

The have maintained that there was no need for probe as the three MLAs have admitted to their actions.