In a twist to the drug case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sukhpal Khaira, AAP-ally Lok Insaaf Party on Monday released an audio recording claiming it to be a conversation about payment of Rs 35 lakh to a Punjab and Haryana  High Court judge for action against Khaira in the drug smuggling case.

Releasing the an audio, the two LIP legislators and brothers, Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains, said the audio recording contains conversation  between Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officer TK Goyal who is under suspension following corruption charges and  former additional advocate general (AAG) Amit Chaudhary who served as AAP in the previous Parkash Singh Badal regime.

They said in the clip, the latter can be heard claiming that he will pay the money to the Punjab and Haryana High Court judge.

Addressing a Press conference, the Bains brothers claimed that the payment was made in conection with Khaira’s petition in the high

court against his recent summoning by a Fazilka court in the drug smuggling case.

Seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Simarjit Singh Bains said the veracity of the conversation needs to be ascertained and it needs to be found who was the person who paid Rs 35 lakh for adverse decision against Khaira in order to spoil his political career and weaken his crusade against corruption by the Congress government.

“We will put the CD before the Chief Justice of High Court and the Chief Justice of India so that the truth comes out” Simarjit said adding that they may release the video recording of the the same at appropriate time.

Bains brothers and AAP legislators met Governor VP Singh Badnore on Monday to demand a CBI inquiry into the matter. Later, speaking to reporters, Khaira said the facts that the Bains brothers had brought to light were sad. “We have faith in judiciary, but they too have failed us. It shows I am victim of a big controversy,” he said.

“We bow to the judiciary. But a tout of the Punjab and Haryana High Court (referring to the lawyer) is claiming that he ensured that Khaira did not get relief (dismissal of revision petition). We consider judges like God. But it’s sad if justice is being compromised. We still do not know who is behind the controversy, though the name of Capt Amarinder Singh is there in the clip,” Khaira added.

He expressed suspicion that Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, his brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia or power minister Rana Gurjit Singh could be involved in this controversy.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said as the matter was in the court, it will not be appropriate for him to comment in the matter but the Bains brother should put whatever evidence they have before the High court.