HP Roadways orders probe over ‘defamatory’ audio on Rahul in bus, drops it after Opp heat

As politics heated up over the issue, HRTC Friday closed the probe terming the complaint on which its was ordered as baseless. The HRTC also decided to issue an advisory to the official “who entertained the complaint and issued notices to the driver and conductor asking them to explain their position or face disciplinary action”.

As per the officials, on November 1, a bus belonging to Dhalli depot was plying on Shimla-Sanjauli route. An audio clip, pertaining to a political debate and with defamatory remarks against Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and others such as Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, and Tejashwi Yadav was played in the bus at loud volume.

A person, identified only as Samuel Prakash, on November 5 lodged a complaint in this regard with the CM’s Office. The complainant mentioned the bus number, the date and time, and the route taken. The CM’s office forwarded the complaint to the HRTC for necessary action.

A senior HRTC official from Dhalli, on November 25 issued notices to bus driver Tek Raj and conductor Shesh Ram seeking their explanation within three days. The notice mentioned that playing of any such audio that defames a political leader is not allowed in a state-run bus. It further said that they failed to stop or object to the audio being played, and hence must submit an explanation or face disciplinary action.

On their part, the driver and the conductor submitted an explanation claiming that that no such audio was played on the bus by them or any passenger.

The BJP hit out the government for initiating a probe against the roadways bus driver and conductor. “The HRTC has asked for a response from the driver and conductor within three days. This kind of overreaction can only happen under a Congress government, where leaders blindly serve one family for political gains. Why harass ordinary employees for such trivial matters,” asked Sukhram.

Meanwhile, Rohan Chand Thakur, Managing Director, HRTC, confirmed that they have closed the matter. “We receive dozens of complaints everyday from many sources. In this particular case, the department received that complaint from the office of the Chief Minister. After the matter came to my knowledge, I examined the facts. It was found that the complaint against the bus driver and conductor was baseless. There is no tape-recorder, or radio or music system installed in the bus wherein such an audio could be played. I am going to issue a notice to the official who entertained such a complaint and issued the notices against the driver and conductor,” said Thakur.