EC orders police case against Shivpal

THE ELECTION Commission today asked Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Vishnoi to lodge a complaint with the police against PWD Minister and Samajwadi Party general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav for committing electoral offences during the recently held by-polls in Rae Bareli.

THE ELECTION Commission today asked Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer (CEO) Anuj Kumar Vishnoi to lodge a complaint with the police against PWD Minister and Samajwadi Party general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav for committing electoral offences during the recently held by-polls in Rae Bareli.

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Congress had filed a complaint before the EC that Yadav through his statements offered money to voters. This was even shown on some TV channels. After scrutinising the TV clippings, the EC was of the view that Yadav had indeed committed an electoral offence of bribery.

The UP CEO has been asked to send a compliance report by May 13.
However, Rae Bareli district magistrate Jitendra Kumar said he had not yet received the copy of the order. Kumar said action would be taken as soon as the order was received.

The UPCC has, however, demanded resignation of the minister on moral grounds. Congress said if the minister did not step down on his own, the government should sack him. UPCC spokesman Akhileash Pratap Singh said the minister had grossly violated constitutional norms.

In another development, the poll panel cleared UP Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohd Azam Khan from the charge of holding an office of profit. The Commission has sent its opinion on Azam to Governor TV Rajeswar. In a complaint to EC it was alleged that Khan was holding an office of profit as chairman of the UP Jal Nigam.

“The Commission recently gave its opinion in view of the recent legislation passed by the UP Assembly exempting the office held by Khan from that of office of profit,” sources said.