MAA Elections: Prakash Raj Seeks CCTV Footage

The drama surrounding Movie Artists Association (MAA) elections is not over yet. The other day elected members from Prakash Raj panel tendered the resignation and added that they can’t work in such an atmosphere.

This afternoon Prakash Raj penned a letter to election officer Krishna Mohan. Prakash Raj targeted Mohan Babu and former President Naresh in this letter and added that their behaviour was threatening.

“You were witnesses to many unfortunate events happened in just concluded MAA elections. The tempers were high and we saw unruly, anti-social behaviour of DRC member Sri Mohan Babu and ex-President Sri Naresh. They abused, threatened and physically attacked members of MAA. I assume you used your discretionary powers to allow them and their henchmen in the polling arena.

Some of the visuals were leaked to the media and it had a field day. MAA elections and later incidents made us laughing stock in the eyes of public. There is disgust behaviour of some known faces. Even MAA members wanted to know the truth about these reports. During your briefings – you talked about CC cameras usage during the polling. I am sure they recorded everything. So I request you to give us CCTV footage. It is our democratic right to get all the relevant information related to polls. As a polling officer it is your duty to preserve all the records at least for three months.

Numerous Supreme Court judgements also mandated the polling officers to preserve the records. So I request you to give us CC footage earliest possible. Unless you act immediately – I fear the footage will be deleted or tampered. Pls acknowledge the letter,” read the letter of Prakash Raj.

On the polling day, visuals of Hema biting Siva Balaji’s hand and later Mohan Babu issuing a warning to a member went viral. Some MAA members alleged that they witnessed a panicked atmosphere for quite some time.

With Prakash Raj seeking CCTV footage, the ball is in election officer Krishna Mohan’s court. In his initial response, Krishna Mohan added that he would hand over the CCTV footage as per the election norms.