FIR Against BJP’s Gautam Gambhir For “Election Rally Without Permission”
NEW DELHI : The Election Commission has asked the Delhi Police to register an FIR against Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Gautam Gambhir for “holding a political rally without taking permission”. The BJP’s latest recruit had not taken permission for his rally on April 25 in Delhi’s Jangpura, violating the model code of conduct, the Election Commission said.
East Delhi Electoral Officer K Mahesh on Saturday asked Delhi Police to register an FIR against Gautam Gambhir for rallying without permission from the commission in Jungpura on April 26. Gautam Gambhir is BJP’s candidate from the East Delhi constituency.
Earlier, Gambhir landed in a controversy after AAP leader Atishi filed a complaint against the former cricketer and BJP candidate Gautam Gambhir for allegedly enrolling as a voter in more than one constituency in violation of the Representation of the People Act (RPA). The complaint had alleged that Gambhir, the East Delhi BJP candidate, has enrolled “deliberately” and “illegally” as a voter in at least two separate constituencies here — Karol Bagh and Rajinder Nagar.
The plea, filed by advocate Mohd Irshad on Thursday, further alleged that Gambhir has provided false information in his nomination papers, accompanying affidavit and other documents preceding voter screening and registration in order to be seen as qualified to contest elections and potentially secure membership of the Parliament.The court will be hearing the plea against Gautam Gambhir on May 1.
Mr Gambhir has replaced Maheish Girri as the BJP candidate from East Delhi, lining up a clash with Arvinder Singh Lovely of the Congress and AAP’s star candidate Atishi. Taking a dig at the 37-year-old former cricketer, Atishi tweeted, saying “First, Discrepancies in nomination papers. Then, Criminal offence of having 2 voter IDs. Now, FIR for illegal rally. My question to @GautamGambhir: When you don’t know the rules, why play the game? (sic)”
In a petition filed on Thursday, Atishi has alleged that Gautam Gambhir had provided false information in his nomination papers. Atishi claimed that Gautam Gambhir is a registered voter in Delhi’s Karol Bagh as well as Rajinder Nagar, both of which fall under the Central Delhi parliamentary seat. The court will hear the case on May 1.
The former cricketer is one of the richest candidates in Delhi, with an annual income of over Rs. 12 crore. A veteran of 58 Tests and 147 one-day internationals, Gautam Gambhir was a key member of the Indian teams that won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the One-Day International World Cup in 2011.
East Delhi, along with six other seats in the capital, will vote on May 12. Results will be counted on May 23.(With Agency Inputs ).
