Thursday, December 23 2004 22:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Madhu Shrivastav, who was captured on camera in a sting operation by 'Tehelka' newspaper purportedly saying key witness in Best Bakery Zaheera Sheikh was paid Rs 18 lakh to turn hostile, today (Dec 23, 2004) warned the newspaper of "dire consequences" and said he would make them 'pay severely for their lies".

Claiming that the expose was completely false and baseless, Shrivastav said that he would hang himself at the Delhi Gate if the allegation of bribing Zaheera was proved true.

"But if they (Tehelka) failed to corroborate what they have claimed then I will 'make them pay severely," he added.

Talking to PTI in Ahmedabad after meeting Gujarat BJP in-charge Om Mathur, Shrivastav said, "If Tehelka can prove even a bit of what they have claimed....then I will hang myself in public view at the Delhi Gate."

Making it clear that he would not take the incident lightly, Shrivastav said, "I will take severe action against them (Tehelka).....I will also drag them to the Vadodara court and if necessary will take them to the High Court for defaming me and the party."

Reiterating that he had nothing to do with Zaheera, Shrivastav maintained, "Let alone Rs 18 lakhs....I have not given her even 18 paise."

Moreover, Tehelka has not been able to substantiate their allegations of actual transactions with visuals in the "so called CD".