Election Commission has lodged a case against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Harish Rawat and Congress candidate from Haridwar city, Brahmswaroop Brahmchari for dragging the party’s Bhagwanpur to Haridwar roadshow on Sunday till midnight much past the time-limit stipulated by commission expired.
The hearing would be held in the court of chief judicial magistrate. This aside, the Kankhal police have also lodged FIRs against BJP candidate Madan Kaushik, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal candidate Adesh Kumar and Independent candidate Raveesh Bhatija-all from Haridwar seat- for not having the printers’ names displayed on the hoardings put up in various crossings in the city.
The returning officer Jai Bharat Singh had taken note of the roadshow violating the time fixed by the EC. While the time fixed was till 8 pm the show extended into the midnight, he had mentioned in his report. It was also alleged the participants of the road show had danced till late night on the roads to high-decibel music system, disturbing the people residing in the areas. Besides, it was alleged, the road show led to clashes between the activists of BJP and Congress in some areas through which the road-show passed.
Based on the report submitted by the returning officer to the EC, a case has been registered under IPC 116/ 13 section 188. Speaking to The Pioneer, Haridwar senior superintendent of police Krishna Kumar said, “There has been violation of model code of conduct in the road -show conducted by Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi and a case has been registered against three persons. Kankhal Kotwali inspector Anil Kumar Joshi has been deputed as the investigator in the case.”