The organisers of PM Modi's Bengaluru roadshow were booked for violating the Model Code of Conduct. They put materials on poles, barricades.
Published May 24, 2023 | 10:21 PM ⚊ Updated May 24, 2023 | 11:01 PM
Modi's Roadshow violated MCC, Cases Registered
At least half a dozen FIRs have been registered across Bengaluru’s police stations accusing the organisers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshows of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in Bengaluru on 6 and 7 May, days before the Karnataka Assembly elections on 10 May.
The cases have been registered under Section 188 (disobedience of order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
According to police sources, whenever a Returning Officer (RO) on duty is informed of violations or observes or notices offences that violate the MCC, such an officer is expected to head to the jurisdictional police station with evidence and file a complaint with the cops, based on which a Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) is registered.
In an FIR registered at the Basavanagudi Police Station, complainant RO Udayashankar LA stated that he was on election duty in the Flying Squad Team (FST) from 6 am until 2 pm on 6 May when he observed that during the prime minister’s roadshow, the organisers had used around 60 flags, and 20-30 flex hoardings and banners with the party symbol and Modi’s photographs on them.
The stretch was from Netkallappa Circle to Shekhar Hospital in the Basavanagudi constituency.
As this was in violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), he filed a complaint with the Basavanagudi police, who registered an NCR.
“As per procedure, such NCRs would be sent to the court and the court would then direct the police to register an FIR based on the seriousness of the poll code violation after hearing the complainant,” a senior police officer said.
In another complaint registered with the Konankunte police station, complainant Nagendra Babu RS alleged that he, as the RO on election duty with the FST in the Bangalore South constituency in the Yalachanahalli area limits, observed a poll code violation.
He said in his complaint that he noted a large number of people from the stretch of Someshwara Sabha Bhavana until Brigage Millenium near Kothanur Main Road holding BJP flags.
While the people had permission to hold flags in their hands, the organisers had not taken permission for tying flags to barricades or poles along the roadside.
According to the RO, this was in violation of the MCC and a complaint was filed at the Konanakunte Police Station.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South Division P Krishnakant confirmed to South First: “We have two cases registered in our division.”
DCP West Division Laxman B Nimbargi said he was aware of the cases that have been registered wherever the roadshows had occurred. The cases were based on Returning Officers’s complaints on MCC violations, he added.
The 26-km roadshow lasted three and a half hours on Saturday 6 May, and was accompanied by tight security with cultural teams that performed along the route, and thousands of supporters carrying party flags, wearing saffron shawls and caps, and large numbers of flags, flex banners, and hoardings put up on either side of the road.
On 7 May, it was a shorter roadshow of 10 km for the prime minister.
The 26-km roadshow from Someshwar Bhavan RBI Ground in Bengaluru South to Malleswaram’s Sankey Tank, was covered in about three hours.
The prime minister’s roadshow traversed through parts of South and Central Bengaluru travelling through at least a dozen Assembly constituencies on both days.
