Karnataka Minister Tanvir Sait was filmed purportedly watching sleazy pictures on his mobile.
Highlights
- Tanwir Sait was allegedly filmed looking at obscene photographs
- At the time, the minister was attending an official function
- Minister says pictures were Whatsapped and he opened them unwittingly
The phone of Karnataka minister Tanvir Sait - who was allegedly caught on camera looking at obscene photographs at an official function -- will be examined by the state Cyber Cell to check how the pictures came to his phone, downloaded or whatsapped.
The primary and secondary education minister has said he had unwittingly opened the pictures after receiving them on Whatsapp. He filed a defamation case against the reporter and the cameraperson of the TV channel who had filmed him at the programme in north Karnataka's Raichur.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara told NDTV that he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and decided to ask the cyber cell to examine the minister's phone. "We will decide the next step after we get this information," he said.
The incident has left the Congress government red faced. A few years ago, the Congress fiercely criticised the then BJP government when three of their ministers were caught on camera surfing pornographic pictures in the state Assembly.
Senior BJP leader Jagdish Shettar, who is also the leader of the opposition in the assembly, said, "This is very wrong. I condemn it. This complaint (against the reporter) should be taken back immediately. "
No case has been filed against TV9, the news channel to which the journalists belong. But the channel says it will stand by its reporters.
Calling it a case of "shooting the messenger", TV9 producer Verghese P Abraham said the minister was at an event championed by the government - the Tipu Jayanthi celebrations.
"He was representing the government... and he was looking at those pictures at a public event. Was it wrong that the journalist reported it?" he questioned.