Lab report gives clean chit to Gujarat MLAs

FSL says nothing objectionable in iPad, BJP legislators threaten to file defamation suit against detractors. HT reports. Case file

BJP MLAs Shanker Chaudhary and Jetha Bharwad, who were accused of watching porn in the assembly on Tuesday, have been given a clean chit by the Gujarat Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

The FSL, which submitted its report on Friday to speaker Ganpat Vasava, found nothing objectionable in the iPad containing over 4,000 pictures and 11 video clips.

Striking a combative note, Chaudhary threatened to drag those behind the “conspiracy” to court for defamation."Those who have conspired to defame me and tarnish my image will have to give answers before the court of law. I am going to file a defamation suit against the conspirators," he said.

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Earlier, before the report was submitted, Congress MLAs were suspended for the third day, for disrupting the proceedings. They were demanding dismissal of Chaudhary and Bharwad from the House. The House had to be adjourned twice amid noisy scenes before the Congress MLAs were suspended.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhvadia released a 2-minute video clip. “Here is the footage in which it can be seen that the MLA concerned is watching objectionable photographs on his iPad,” said Modhvadia.

But the clip, widely circulated on the Internet, does not prove so conclusively.

Gujarat BJP general secretary Vijay Rupani said the party would expose the Congress conspiracy to defame the BJP and its MLAs by holding demonstrations across the state.

The report will now be handed over to the Privileges Committee of the House, which is probing the issue.