An FIR has been filed against BJP leaders Vinod Tawde and Rajan Naik following allegations of cash distribution to voters in Virar ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections. The Election Commission has also seized Rs 9 lakh in cash.
FIR Registered Against BJP Leaders Vinod Tawde, Rajan Naik Over ‘Cash-For-Vote’ Allegations
Ahead of the crucial Maharashtra assembly elections, an FIR has been filed against two senior BJP leaders, Vinod Tawde and Rajan Naik, over allegations of distributing cash to voters in Virar, Palghar district. The allegations, brought forward by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leader Hitendra Thakur, claim that the BJP leaders were involved in a large-scale cash distribution to influence voters.
Allegations of Cash Distribution in Virar
On the eve of the Maharashtra assembly elections, Hitendra Thakur accused BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde of being involved in the distribution of Rs 5 crore to BJP workers during a meeting in Virar. Thakur further claimed that this distribution was aimed at swaying voters in the upcoming elections, which were set to take place on November 20, 2024.
Thakur’s statements were followed by an investigation by the Election Commission and the police, who were alerted to the situation. The allegations of cash-for-vote prompted immediate action, with an FIR being filed against Tawde and BJP candidate Rajan Naik at Tulinj Police Station in the Mira-Bhayandar-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) region.
Election Commission and Police Action
Following the allegations, the Election Commission launched an investigation into the matter. Officials confirmed that they had seized over Rs 9 lakh in cash and several documents related to the alleged distribution. The documents reportedly included a list of names with amounts next to them, possibly detailing how much money had been allocated to specific individuals.
Madhukar Pandey, the Police Commissioner for MBVV, confirmed to ABP News that procedural formalities regarding the case were underway. He added that the investigation was focused on a hotel where the alleged distribution had taken place.
BJP Denies Allegations
The BJP, however, has dismissed the allegations as unfounded and a mere publicity stunt by the opposition. Party leaders have claimed that the charges were a tactic by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition to discredit the BJP ahead of the elections.
Vinod Tawde, in response to the allegations, stated that he was in Nalasopara to provide guidance on election procedures, and challenged the opposition to verify his activities. Tawde also referred to the claims as baseless, accusing the MVA of making such allegations because they anticipated a loss in the elections.
A video surfaced on social media showing a heated face-off between Tawde and BVA leaders, which further fueled the controversy surrounding the accusations.
Hitendra Thakur’s Statement
Hitendra Thakur, the BVA leader who made the allegations, gave further details about the purported cash distribution. He claimed that the Election Commission had recovered a bag filled with money and diaries containing records of the distribution. Thakur said that a BJP leader had informed him that Rs 5 crore had been brought to the region to influence the election results.
The BVA leader also alleged that pressure was being exerted on him by the authorities to prevent him from holding a press conference about the incident. Thakur stated, “The collector has told me that I am not even allowed to hold a press conference. There is a lot of pressure on me.”
Maharashtra Assembly Elections
The allegations come just days before the voting for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, which is scheduled for November 20, 2024. The votes will be counted on November 23, and the results will likely have a significant impact on the political landscape in the state.
With tensions running high ahead of the elections, the controversy surrounding the alleged cash-for-vote incident has only intensified political debates and social media discussions. While the BJP strongly denies the allegations, the issue has captured the attention of voters and election observers alike.
