The Election Commission of India has ordered a probe into a potential bribery case against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in response to a report on The Indian Express.
Singh, has however, denied any talks of money being exchanged between the Congress and the BJP as claimed in the report.
The EC has sought an inquiry report on the issue from the state secretary by January 7 after audio tapes were released pointing towards money exchanging hands to make sure Congress member Manturam Pawar withdraws from the September 2014 by-polls.
The EC has directed the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh to urgently institute a suitable enquiry into the tape episode. He has been directed to submit a factual report latest by 7 January along with his comments.
Election Commission official to The Indian Express
Meanwhile, the BJP, the ruling party in the state, has called the allegations baseless.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)