EC team reaches Mann’s Delhi house after ‘cash distribution’ complaint

A major controversy erupted on Thursday when the Election Commission’s Flying Squad Team (FST) along with the Delhi Police reached Kapurthala House, the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here, after it was alerted about alleged distribution of cash from there.

However, officials present there did not allow the team to enter the CM’s house following which the Returning Officer of the New Delhi constituency, OP Pandey, also reached the spot to speak to Punjab Government officials about the matter.

According to officials, the Returning Officer had received a complaint regarding the alleged distribution of cash at Kapurthala House, which falls under the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Assembly constituency.

The complaint was received via the cVIGIL app, a platform where any citizen can report alleged violations of the model code of conduct.

“As per the standard protocol, the FST of the New Delhi constituency, stationed nearby was assigned the task by the control room to investigate the complaint and close it by taking appropriate action within the stipulated 100-minute time-frame,” an official told The Tribune.

On getting the complaint, the FST reached the Kapurthala House. However, the team was not permitted by the security personnel to enter the premises to verify the complaint. Later, the FST filed a complaint with the police regarding non-compliance of the procedure.

The development led to another political showdown with AAP leaders attacking the BJP for EC’s action and calling it a political witch-hunt.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal questioned the targeting of opposition leaders, alleging that BJP leaders were openly distributing cash, blankets, sarees, shoes, jackets, shawls and even gold chains ahead of the elections, but it was the Punjab CM who was being subjected to a raid.

Mann also strongly condemned the raid, stating that the Delhi Police and the EC were working under the BJP’s influence to malign the image of Punjab and its people. Senior AAP leaders, including Delhi CM Atishi and Punjab unit president Aman Arora also slammed the BJP, asserting that the people of Delhi and Punjab would give a befitting response to political witch-hunt in the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has urged the EC to inspect official vehicles of all Punjab MLAs, ministers and the CM entering and exiting Kapurthala House. He alleged cash was being transported from Punjab in these vehicles for distribution during the Delhi elections.

Bittu’s demand came a day after an FIR was lodged by the Delhi Police over cash seizure from a purported Punjab Government vehicle. AAP has denied the charge and accused the BJP of using a fake number plate to malign the ruling party.