With Karnataka Chief minister Kumaraswamy all set to appoint a retired high court judge to supervise the SIT. The Audiogate controversy in Karnataka took a new twist. “The probe will be conducted under the judge’s guidance. The report will also be submitted to the judge who, in turn, will submit it to the House in the next 15 days,”  sources in Chief Ministers office indicated.

The ‘audiogate’ rocked the Legislative Assembly on Monday with Kumaraswamy announcing a comprehensive special investigation team (SIT) probe into the ‘Operation Kamala’ clip, whereas BJP lodged a strong opposition to the same.

The near five-hour debate, which stalled the day’s proceedings amid three adjournments, saw heated debates as Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar “advised” the coalition government to constitute a SIT to probe the charges, which also involved him.

Asserting that the Kumaraswamy government too was accused of horse-trading and that its trustworthiness was under suspicion, the BJP demanded that the Speaker either order a judicial enquiry or a House committee probe into the bribery charges. As the Opposition demanded the scope of the probe to be expanded, BJP MLA JC Madhuswamy asked the Speaker to reconsider his decision. The Speaker, however, justified his ruling, saying he had requested Kumaraswamy to form the SIT based on the fact that his name had been mentioned and a deal had been struck.

This was surprising given that so far the Yeddyurappa-led BJP had vehemently denied taking part in any horse-trading practice and had questioned the veracity of the clip, terming it to be “fake” or “doctored”. Accusing Kumaraswamy of blackmailing him, Yeddyurappa on Sunday had said the content and voice in the audio tape are fabricated and doctored.

“I met Sharanagouda, son of JD(S)’ Gurmitkal legislator Nanganagouda Kandakur, at Devadurga in Raichur district on 7 February and discussed many things. But the content in the audio tape Kumaraswamy released in Bengaluru on 8 February is fabricated and its voice doctored,” Yeddyurappa had told reporters at Hubballi.

The clip containing a purported conversation between Yeddyurappa, BJP MLA Shivanagouda Naik and Sharanagouda towards an alleged attempt to lure the lawmaker to the other side by offering Rs 25 lakh and a ministerial post for his father. The Speaker’s name too was dragged into the matter, with the charge that he was “booked” for Rs 50 crore to accept the resignations of disgruntled MLAs to topple the government.

Kumar, who raised the matter soon after the session started, said that he was distressed and anguished as a member of the House had cast aspersions on him. He even suggested stepping down against the backdrop of the bribery allegations. However, both government and Opposition members urged him not to be “emotional” and take a “hasty” decision.

BJP Karnataka’s official Twitter handle also launched an attack on the Kumaraswamy government and alleged that Yeddyurappa’s voice was “mimicked” in the clip. “Full-time movie producer turned part-time chief minister used his connection to mimic BS Yeddyurappa’s voice,” the tweet read.