Tadas files police complaint against sting video
Balwant Dhage | TNN | Apr 5, 2019, 04:24 IST
Wardha: BJP MP and candidate Ramdas Tadas has lodged a police complaint with Ramnagar police station against a TV channel over a sting video that allegedly shows him speaking about spending crores over the Election Commission (EC) expenditure limit. Replying to the EC show cause notice, he claimed to have been speaking about other candidates.
In the sting, Tadas is allegedly seen claiming that his estimated poll expenditure before the Lok Sabha elections is around Rs25 crore, and that it was Rs10 crore during the 2014 polls. He is also seen explaining how cash can be taken home. The newly launched TV channel TV9 Bharatvarsh had telecast this sting video on Wednesday.
In his police complaint Tadas said he was talking about other candidates who contest LS. He demanded a high level inquiry into the matter and he alleged that since this is election time he was being targeted by the opposition.
Replying to the EC notice, he said, “The EC has issued the notice without any evidence while I have been submitting expenditure report every day and there is 30-day period for verification.”
District collector and returning officer Vivek Bhimanwar said, “EC has given clear guidelines for expenditure and the limit is Rs70 lakh. I have seen that video, which is a violation of code of conduct. I just received his reply. After examining the reply, under the EC guidelines, we will take action against him.”
The news channel had reported that 15 of the 18 lawmakers approached had allegedly admitted to violating election rules. The MPs are from across the country and belong to different parties. While five are from the BJP, three each are from Congress and Samajwadi Party, one each from Aam Aadmi Party, All India United Democratic Front, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Jan Adhikar Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Lok Janashakti Party. One is an independent candidate.
Tadas is contesting against Congress candidate Charulata Tokas.
The channel said that its reporters had conducted the operation under the guise of being employees of a consultancy. The other MPs acknowledged using black money, liquor and other illegal means to “woo and buy voters”. Some of the lawmakers seen in the videos also agreed to ask questions in Parliament in exchange for money.
In the sting, Tadas is allegedly seen claiming that his estimated poll expenditure before the Lok Sabha elections is around Rs25 crore, and that it was Rs10 crore during the 2014 polls. He is also seen explaining how cash can be taken home. The newly launched TV channel TV9 Bharatvarsh had telecast this sting video on Wednesday.
In his police complaint Tadas said he was talking about other candidates who contest LS. He demanded a high level inquiry into the matter and he alleged that since this is election time he was being targeted by the opposition.
Replying to the EC notice, he said, “The EC has issued the notice without any evidence while I have been submitting expenditure report every day and there is 30-day period for verification.”
District collector and returning officer Vivek Bhimanwar said, “EC has given clear guidelines for expenditure and the limit is Rs70 lakh. I have seen that video, which is a violation of code of conduct. I just received his reply. After examining the reply, under the EC guidelines, we will take action against him.”
The news channel had reported that 15 of the 18 lawmakers approached had allegedly admitted to violating election rules. The MPs are from across the country and belong to different parties. While five are from the BJP, three each are from Congress and Samajwadi Party, one each from Aam Aadmi Party, All India United Democratic Front, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Jan Adhikar Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Lok Janashakti Party. One is an independent candidate.
Tadas is contesting against Congress candidate Charulata Tokas.
The channel said that its reporters had conducted the operation under the guise of being employees of a consultancy. The other MPs acknowledged using black money, liquor and other illegal means to “woo and buy voters”. Some of the lawmakers seen in the videos also agreed to ask questions in Parliament in exchange for money.
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