Haryana minister booked after ‘voter intimidation’ allegations

Tribune News Service
Rohtak, May 15

Haryana’s Minister of State for Cooperatives Manish Grover booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code and Representation of People Act on Wednesday, after the Congress accused him of voter intimidation during the sixth phase of general elections.

Grover was booked under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of IPC and Section 131 of Representation of People Act (Penalty for disorderly conduct in or near polling stations).

Also on Wednesday, a Rohtak court denied bail to his aide, Ramesh Lohar, who is a history-sheeter and one of the several people accused of accompanying Minister Grover to polling booths. Lohar was arrested after Congress made the accusations, and released on bail, but re-arrested later.

The developments come a day after senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad wrote to the Election Commission of India accusing Grover of voter intimidation at certain polling booths in Rohtak town on May 12.  A Special Investigating Team is probing the allegations.

The Congress has been accusing Grover of forcing his way into polling booths with “50 goons” and intimidating voters—complaints that led election officials to restrict the minister’s movements until voting ended.

Haryana voted in the sixth phase of general elections on May 12.