An inquiry instituted into the bribe charges, levelled by local scribes of Leh against two top BJP leaders, has found “prima facie merit” in the allegations of attempt to pay money to “swing votes” in the Lok Sabha elections held on May 6.
“We approached the district court on Tuesday through the police and sought directions for registration of an FIR in the matter,” Leh District Election Officer (DEO) and Deputy Commissioner Avny Lavasa said.
She said the court is likely to club all three complaints, one from the DEO’s office and two others made by the Press Club Leh (PCL).
Several journalists of the PCL in a written complaint against BJP’s state president Ravinder Raina and MLC Vikram Randhawa alleged these leaders tried to “offer bribe in envelops to swing votes”. The incident is also caught on a camera.
“After a press conference on May 2, these two leaders tried to bribe the media persons by offering money in envelops in a bid to use our platform to influence the outcome of the elections,” seven journalists of the PCL wrote in the complaint addressed to the Station House Officer (SHO).
Seeking First Information Report (FIR) against the BJP leader, the journalists said, “We showed our anguish at their attempt. The press fraternity of Ladakh strongly condemns the violation of the Model Code of Conduct.”
The BJP said it will look into such allegations. “Our party has no such tradition. The party will look into it,” BJP state general secretary Ashok Kaul told The Hindu.