Hyderabad, Dec 25 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Governor N.D. Tiwari Friday denied media reports alleging his involvement in a sex scandal and termed them “malicious”.
Meanwhile, some women groups staged protests outside the Raj Bhavan demanding the governor’s resignation. Police arrested a dozen activists of the All India Democratic Women’s Organisation and Progressive Women’s Organisation.

A statement issued from Raj Bhavan Friday evening said the governor was disturbed at the attempts to malign him.

The statement signed by Aryandra Sharma, officer on special duty to the governor, was issued after ABN channel, owned by Telugu daily Andhra Jyothi, telecast the story and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu demanded Tiwari’s resignation over the alleged sex scandal involving him.

The statement said after the channel telecast a news story, a submission was made before the high court which issued an order restraining the channel from telecasting the “demeaning” story.

“All other media/news channels have been informed of the facts with a request not to take cognizance of fabricated, false and malicious news story attempting to tarnish the image of the Hon’ble Governor,” the statement said.

“There is absolutely no truth in the alleged news story which is nothing but sensation mongering and in poor taste. It is nothing but a tissue of lies,” it added.

“The Governor Shri Narayan Datt Tiwariji is 86 years old and in the evening of his life. The office of the Governor is constantly under public scrutiny and entirely above board.”

“It is sad and unfortunate that constitutional functionaries are dragged into needless controversy with utter disregard to propriety as well as deference to be shown to the age which is part of our culture and tradition,” it said.

Earlier, TDP chief Naidu told a news conference that Tiwari should resign or the central government should sack him for bringing shame to the “sacred office of the governor”. The former chief minister also demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the scandal as some MPs were also allegedly involved.

Naidu made the demand after a private Telugu news channel showed footage purportedly of Tiwari with three women in his bedroom.