The four ruling BJD MLAs, who were purportedly shown in a tv clip seeking illegal gratification to help industries set up units in their constituencies, today claimed they were victims of a conspiracy and filed separate FIRs.
Terming the allegation against them as baseless and incorrect, the four - Anama Nayak, Sushant Behera, Bijay Nayak and Seemarani Nayak - maintained that the man who talked to them separately blackmailed them.
"I have not demanded Rs 30 crore or Rs 40 crore as shown in the TV. During discussion, I had mentioned 30 or 40 acre of land for setting up industry," said Seemarani Nayak, who along with three others attended the one-day special session of the Assembly here.
While Bijay Nayak claimed that the allegation against him was "baseless", Anam Nayak alleged he was blackmailed.
Sushant Nayak also claimed that he had never demanded any money from any industry for helping it.
The four legislators also separately filed FIRs at the Kharvel Nagar police station here alleging that the sting operation was aimed at maligning their images.
The MLAs claimed they were invited for a discussion regarding setting up of an industry and the conversation was recorded.
They told police that the person claiming to be a representative of the company "later blackmailed us with the recording."
As the MLAs could not give the money, he released the recording to Media tarnishing their images, they alleged.
The opposition BJP has already filed an FIR against the four MLAs at the Capital police station demanding action against the legislators in this connection.
The opposition Congress demanded a judicial inquiry into it by a sitting High Court judge.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had also ordered a vigilance probe into the matter.
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