‘BRIBE TO PRESS’|BJP state president Raina, in-charge Leh Randhawa booked

The J&K president of Bharatiya Janata Party Ravinder Raina and its sitting legislative council member Vikram Randhawa were Thursday charged with offences of bribery and exercising unfair influence in the ongoing parliamentary elections.

In the major setback to the saffron party, police filed acase against Raina and the party in-charge of Leh Randhawa after a journalists’association in Leh alleged that the politicians tried to bribe them.

   

“We have registered a case FIR number 41/2019 at policestation Leh. Further proceedings have been imitated,” Senior Superintendent ofPolice (SSP) Leh, Sargun Shukla told Greater Kashmir.

“The persons were booked under section 171E and 171F oflaw,” she added.

Lawyers say both 171E and 171F of Ranbir Penal Code arepunishable with up to one year imprisonment for each offense or fine or both ifa charge of bribery or undue influence or impersonation at an election isestablished.

The FIR was lodged after a local court asked the police tofile a case on complaint by the Leh journalist body.

Congress party’s candidate from Ladakh, Rigzin Spalbar, alsoalleged that on May 2 some BJP leaders offered packets containing cash to themedia persons during a press conference at Hotel Singge Palace, Leh.

District Election Officer, Leh, through Additional DistrictMagistrate conducted an enquiry into the matter and prima facie foundcommissioning of non-cognisable offences punishable under Section 171E and 171Fof RPC.

The BJP chief Ravinder Raina has denied the allegations.

“I was not present in the hall but after this issue washighlighted in social media I enquired from Vikram Randhawa and was informedthat invitations cards were given to media after press conference, which theyrefused to take, not money,” Raina said.

“As BJP, we believe in transparency and accountability. Ireiterate my commitment that if court, police, election authorities want to dolie-detector, narco test or brain mapping test, I am ready.”

Randhawa also denied the bribery charge and alleged the episodewas the handiwork of anti-party elements in Kashmir sponsored by the Congress.

“All allegations of Leh journalists are baseless andmisleading. It was supported by anti-BJP elements in Kashmir and Congress tomalign the image of the party,” Randhawa said.

The saffron party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit is also settingup a committee to probe the allegation of attempts to bribe journalists forinfluence parliamentary polls.

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