Laboratory finds no 'porn' in Gujarat MLA's iPad

AHMEDABAD: The Forensic Science Laboratory in Ahmedabad has given a clean chit to two BJP MLAs accused of watching porn clips inside the state legislative assembly. Legislators Shankar Chaudhary and Jetha Bharwad were accused by a journalist of flipping through ‘obscene material’ on a tablet on Tuesday. Congress, however, contested the laboratory findings.

The FSL examined the handheld device and submitted a scrutiny report. Speaker Ganpat Vasava read out the report that said the device contained 4,161 pictures and 11 video clips, but none of them were obscene. “The iPad was not connected to the internet till the afternoon of March 20. After that seven web pages were seen. However, nothing was obscene. It cannot be proved that MLAs were watching objectionable content. The sealed report has been submitted to the Privileges Committee, which will give its final report,” said Vasava.

Congress sought an examination by a central agency. At a press conference held later in the evening, the party questioned the neutrality of the FSL findings. “FSL director Vyas was called at the chief minister's office on March 21. The device was handed over to him by the personal assistant of secretary of the assembly,” Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhwadia said.

Modhwadia questioned visit of the FSL official to the CMO and insisted that the two MLAs were watching obscene material. Modhwadia wanted BJP to apply the same yardstick it had for party functionary Sanjay Joshi. BJP had asked Joshi to resign when a porn clip allegedly involving him started doing rounds. “If the party demanded immediate resignation from Joshi before the final report was out, why is it going soft on its MLAs now,” he asked. He also said the Speaker could not announce the summary of the report when the matter was pending with the privileges committee. “The Speaker did not allow us to raise the issue saying that the matter has been handed over to the committee. Now he himself is announcing the summary of the FSL report. The Speaker is not authorised for this,” said Modhwadia.

Armed with the FSL clean chit, the MLAs who were accused hit back at Congress demanding an apology. They sought Modhwadia’s resignation from the assembly. “We want a formal apology from Congress over its stand on the issue. Their leader Arjun Modhwadia should also tender his resignation. We also want all the conspirators to be exposed,” Shankar Chaudhary told ET.

The MLAs said they were relieved after the summary of FSL report was made public. “The past few days were very tough for our families. We will take action against the conspirators,” Chaudhary told media persons after Vasava's statement.

The issue rocked Gujarat Assembly on March 20 and the Speaker had to repeatedly adjourn the House following Congress' demand for suspension of both the MLAs.