B.R. Patil, senior MLA of Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP), has decided to file defamation cases against two national television news channels — Times Now and India Today — for telecasting a ‘cash-for-vote’ sting operation, which showed him seeking bribe in exchange for votes in the elections to the Rajya Sabha from the State, scheduled on June 11.
Mr. Patil, who sat in dharna before the Kengal Hanumanthaiya statue on the Vidhana Soudha premises against what he called “hatching a conspiracy” to defame him by TV news channels, on Friday, said he would stage a protest before offices of both the TV channels if they failed to clear his name or prove the charge of seeking bribe.
Mr. Patil, who has been elected to the Legislative Assembly several times since the 1980s, called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and sought a probe into the sting operation. “I am consulting legal experts to move a privilege motion in the Assembly against TV channels,” he said, adding that he would petition the Press Council of India also.
