Andhra Governor Tiwari lands in a controversy

Andhra Pradesh Governor N D Tiwari landed in a fresh controversy on Friday after a local television channel telecast explicit clippings purportedly of the veteran Congress leader with some women, a footage rejected by Raj Bhavan as fabricated and a "tissue of lies."

The development, amid the crisis in the state over the Telangana statehood issue, triggered demands that the 86-year-old Governor resign or be dismissed and also protests by women activists outside the Raj Bhavan where security was beefed up after the private Telugu channel aired the footage.

In a quick damage control, the Raj Bhavan approached the AP High Court, filed a PIL against the channel -- ABN Andhra Jyothy -- and got an order to restrain it from further airing the footage, which was allegedly taken inside Raj Bhavan during the night.

The channel stopped airing the footage after the court ordered the channel to stop airing it. The footage was shown for an hour from 10 am on Friday.

Raj Bhavan denied the footage and issued a statement.

"The Governor is 86-years-old and in the evening of his life. It is sad and unfortunate that constitutional functionaries are dragged in to needless controversies," it added.

Counsel for the Raj Bhavan Ravishanker, Jandhyala said: "There is absolutely no truth in the alleged news story, which is nothing but sensation mongering."

"The alleged news story is nothing but a 'tissue of lies' and is denied," he said, adding there is no question of his resignation.
"We will definitely file a defamation case. Already I have issued a notice in the afternoon (to the channel)," he added.

The leader of opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu demanded the immediate sacking of Tiwari, a veteran Congress leader, for his alleged involvement in the 'scandal'.

"The only way for him (Tiwari) is to resign or the Centre should sack him," Naidu said.

Ravindra Reddy, ACP Banjara Hills and other police officials went to the channel's office and handed over the High Court orders.

Women activists protested before the Raj Bhavan condemning the alleged portrayal of the Governor in the footage shown.

Punjagutta police said as many 30 women activists were taken in to preventive custody as they were trying to hold a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan.

The Telugu newspaper Andhra Jyothy in its Friday edition carried an advertisement requesting the public to watch the channel for an exclusive visuals allegedly portraying the former Union Minister and Uttrakhand chief minister in a compromising position.

Tiwari recently got relief from the Delhi High Court in a paternity case filed by Rohit Sekhar, who claimed to be his son. The court dismissed Rohit's petition on the grounds of time limitation.