Minister may get clean chit, says complainant

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, December 10

Rohtak DC Yash Garg has sent a report to the State Election Commission in connection with a provocative speech reportedly delivered by Minister of State for Cooperatives Manish Grover, who had courted a controversy by offering guns, money and gunmen to residents of a village while campaigning for a BJP candidate.

“The returning officer was asked to examine the matter and comment whether or not it amounted to violation of the model code of conduct. The Rohtak SP was asked to ascertain whether or not a cognisable offence was made out against the minister. After getting their inputs, a report has been sent to the State Election Commission,” Garg told The Tribune here on Monday.

Complainant Sita Ram Sachdeva, who is the Congress-backed mayoral nominee from Rohtak, feared that the minister was going to get a clean chit.

He urged the ECI and the Governor to intervene in the matter and take action.

In a letter addressed to the State Election Commissioner, Returning Officer and Rohtak SP, Sachdeva’s election incharge Virender said that as per his knowledge, “the report submitted by the Deputy Commissioner is influenced and a clean chit has been given under pressure of the government”.

He has requested the State Election Commission that Grover be immediately stopped from canvassing in Rohtak and an FIR be registered against him, failing which the complainant would move court.