Vinod Verma case: Congress demands SC-monitored SIT probe into sex CD row involving Chhattisgarh minister Rajesh Munat

Raipur:  The Congress on Thursday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the sex CD row allegedly involving a Chhattisgarh minister. While making this demand, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary PL Punia also alleged that since the CBI is acting at the behest of the BJP-led government, there could be a no fair inquiry into the sex CD row. The Chhattisgarh government has recommended a CBI probe into the CD row. “The CBI is acting like a parrot of the BJP government (at the Centre). Therefore, it raises a doubt over a fair probe into the CD row. We demand that the alleged CD case should be probed by a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT),” Punia, who is also the party’s in-charge for Chhattisgarh, said in a press conference. [caption id=“attachment_4179167” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of former BBC journalist Vinod Verma. Twitter @patrakarvinod[/caption] He also rejected the BJP’s allegations that the Congress was circulating the alleged sex CD. “Congress party has never indulged in such activities. The CD in question was already viral in the public domain. But, it is our responsibility as an Opposition to expose the corrupt practices of the ruling party ministers before the people. It is our moral responsibility,” he added. He also described the arrest of journalist Vinod Verma as an attack on the freedom of the press. “The way journalist Verma was arrested, it seems that it was a well-planned conspiracy. It is an attack on the freedom of the press and we condemn this act,” he said. Meanwhile, he also accused ruling BJP of misusing funds to tune to crores in the name of Rajyotsav, statehood celebrations. Despite the farmers are bearing the brunt of drought in the state, the ruling BJP has been spending crore of rupees on performances by film artists during Rajyotsva celebrations which is very unfortunate, he said. A porn video CD allegedly featuring state’s public works department minister Rajesh Munat has rocked the political circles in the state. The alleged CD surfaced in the media after the arrest of a Vinod Verma from Ghaziabad by Chhattisgarh Police last week. Verma, who is currently in Raipur jail on judicial remand, after his arrest had claimed that he has sex CD involving the minister. However, Munat had dubbed the CD as “fake”, and an attempt to tarnish his image.