Cash-for-votes sting: EC tells DEOs to file FIRs against 3 candidates

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, February 24

The Election Commission has instructed the DEOs of three seats to file FIRs against their respective candidates shown in ‘Cash for Votes Scandal-2017’ string operation om a news channel.

The sting operation carried by India Today in connection with the ongoing UP election involves BSP candidate Ateeq Ahmad Saifi (Moradabad), SP’s Atul Garg (Agra North) and Peace Party’s Rakesh Valmeeki (Agra Cantonment).

The three have been caught on camera making statements to the effect of bribing of electors, suppression of election expenses, and in the case of Valmeeki, even threatening to attempt booth-capturing, states the EC’s letter to the UP Chief Electoral Officer.

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The Commission has directed the UP CEO of taking “necessary action” by issuing notices to the candidates “for breach of law under the relevant provisions, ie, Section 171-B/171-E relating to bribery at election, failure to maintain true and correct account of election expenses under Section 77 of the RP Act, violation of MCC guidelines and booth-capturing under Section 135-A of the said Act in the case of the Peace Party candidate.