Hassan city police in Karnataka have registered a case against A Manju, district in charge minister on the charge of violation of the model code of conduct.
The complaint filed by election officer B Rajesh was registered on Wednesday under Sec 188 of the IPC. The officer filed the complaint as per the instructions of Additional Deputy Commissioner B R Poornima. According to the FIR, unauthorised persons were working in the office of Manju even after the model code of conduct came into force. Based on instructions of deputy commissioner Rohini Sindhuri Dasari, a complaint was lodged with the police.
A notice was served to the Minister on March 31. In response, he said he was still the Minister in-charge of the District and had not violated the code of conduct.
After verifying his reply, the ADC instructed the election officer to file a case under relevant sections for violation of the model code of conduct. Manju was charged with using the government building even after the model code of conduct came into effect.
The deputy commissioner, who is also election officer, had slapped a notice on the minister seeking his clarification.
In another development the JDs chief and Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said he would be contesting from two assembly constituencies —Ramanagara which he now represents — and Channapatna — both in Bengaluru Rural lok Sabha constituency.
In 2013 Kumaraswamy won in Ramanagara constituency by a margin of 40,000 votes. But in Channapatna it was won by CP Yogeeshwar on a Samajwadi Party ticket, joined the Congress as an associate member, but resigned a couple of months ago and joined BJP recently.
Meanwhile based on a complaint by JDS MlA GT Devegowda asking EC to remove Kempaiah a retired police officer and advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Chief Election Officer Sanjay Kumar wrote to the Election Commission of India stating that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s close associate and political advisor to the Home Minister – Kempaiah, violated the modal code of conduct by continuing to perform his duties. The CEO’s office is awaiting for a response from EC regarding the action to be taken against Kempaiah.
GT Devegowda had alleged that Kempaiah violated the code of conduct by distributing money and liquor to people in Chamundeshwari constituency, where CM Siddaramaiah is all set to contest against him.
“Political advisors will not have any role in election campaigning. We will have to look into the nature of Kempaiah’s appointment and take action,” Sanjay Kumar had said.