Hours before Maharashtra polls, BJP's Tawde booked in 'cash-for-votes' row

Police on Tuesday registered two FIRs against BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde, party candidate Rajan Naik and others in connection with the alleged distribution of cash to voters at a hotel in Palghar a day before the Maharashtra polls, an official said.

The cases were registered at the Tulinj police station in the district for alleged violation of the election code of conduct in place for the November 20 Assembly elections, he said.

The first FIR named Tawde and others for assembling at a hotel in violation of the poll code, while the second one accuses them of luring voters by offering cash and alcohol to them, the police said.

Hours before the Assembly polls, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leader Hitendra Thakur accused Tawde of distributing Rs 5 crore at a hotel in Virar, 60 km from Mumbai, to woo voters, a claim the BJP leader denied, saying he was only providing guidance to party workers on poll procedures.

A Tulinj police station official said, “In the first FIR, 22 people, including BJP leader Vinod Tawde, BJP candidate from Nalasopara Rajan Naik and party office-bearer Manoj Barot have been named, while 200 to 250 unidentified party workers shown as accused for illegally assembling on the fifth floor of the hotel and holding a meeting, thereby violating the election code of conduct.”

In another FIR, 34 others, including Tawde, Naik and Barot, were named as accused along with 200 to 250 unidentified party workers. They were accused of violating the poll code for allegedly luring people by offering cash and alcohol to them, he said.

Both the cases were registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the official said, adding that investigation was underway.

A viral video showed BVA party supporters barging into the Virar hotel room and flinging bundles of cash at Tawde's face before police escorted him out.

Meanwhile, Tawde called the charges against him as “baseless”, and urged the Election Commission to conduct an impartial probe into the matter.

He said there was no question of him distributing money to voters, and claimed that he was only discussing election-related issues with the workers of his party.

A deputy commissioner of police of the Mira Bhayanda-Vasai Virar police said, “We are taking action against whatever happened in the hotel. The press conference held on the premises was also illegal. We will take action as per law.”

After a ruckus of over three hours at the hotel, Hitendra Thakur, his son Kshitij, Tawde, and BJP candidate Naik decided to hold a press conference at the hotel. However, as the press conference started, it was stopped by poll officials stating it was illegal.

In his statement issued in the evening, Tawde said his visit to the hotel was for a casual meeting with BJP candidate Rajan Naik contesting from the Nalasopara assembly constituency.

“While returning to Mumbai from Wada (in Palghar), I received a call from Rajan Naik who invited me for tea at a hotel in Vasai where party workers had assembled. After I reached the place, we naturally discussed election-related matters, particularly technical processes for polling day and precautions to take,” he said.

“Suddenly, some workers from another party entered and surrounded me, shouting loudly. I later learned they were from the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA),” he said.

Tawde said he then called BVA chief Hitendra Thakur, urging him to control the situation. “I contacted Hitendra Thakur and requested him to restrain his party workers. Both he and (BVA) MLA Kshitij Thakur arrived at the hotel. After a brief discussion, I left with them in the same vehicle to defuse tension,” he said.

Tawde said, “There is no question of me distributing money. I was merely meeting our workers over tea and discussing election-related issues. These allegations are baseless.”

He also sought examination of the hotel's CCTV footage, stating, “Let the CCTV footage be reviewed, and let the Election Commission conduct an impartial inquiry. It will become evident what really happened. Truth and lies will be separated.”

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) slammed Tawde and the BJP, accusing the saffron party of indulging in "cash-for-votes" and "note jihad", along with misusing government machinery and engaging in corrupt practices.

In the statement, Tawde criticised opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and NCP (SP) Supriya Sule, for commenting on the incident without knowing the facts.

“Leaders making allegations should first understand the reality of the situation,” he said.

Amid claims by BVA leaders that Rs 5 crore cash was distributed, an election official said Rs 9.93 lakh cash was recovered from the hotel rooms.

District collector and election officer Govind Bodke said the election department received complaints from BVA that some BJP people were distributing cash at the Virar hotel. Following the complaint, a team of election officials and police went to the hotel and carried out an inspection, he said. They seized Rs 9,93,500 cash and some documents, he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP rejected the allegation of distribution of cash to voters, claiming the opposition camp is trying to influence the election with such "absurd" accusations sensing defeat in the state Assembly polls.

BJP leader Pravin Darekar said, “The MVA has already lost the game. They are destined for defeat in this election, which is why they are making such absurd allegations against us."

MVA leaders sought a comprehensive investigation by the Election Commission, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut suggesting a conspiracy against Tawde by some BJP leaders.

Raut said, "No matter how much the BJP tries to hide, whatever happened in Nallasopara-Virar, happened before the camera." Raut claimed that prominent BJP leaders, including state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, were aware of Tawde's activities.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took a "note jihad" jibe over claims of Tawde distributing money hours before voting for the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Thackeray demanded strict action by the Election Commission of India, stating that merely registering a case against Tawde won't suffice.

“Is this BJP's note jihad (for votes)? 'Baatenge aur jitenge' (will distribute cash to win). Entire Maharashtra has seen it (a video showing bundles of cash). Maharashtra will decide tomorrow," Thackeray told reporters.

"Tawde was lauded for toppling governments in some states and helping to form new ones. Now the secret behind this has come out in the open,” Thackeray said.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole accused the BJP of misusing government machinery and indulging in corrupt practices, including “notes for votes” (distributing money to buy votes), fearing a defeat in the upcoming state Assembly elections.

Also on Tuesday, BVA's official candidate from Dahanu Assembly seat, Suresh Padvi, joined the BJP and declared his support for BJP's official candidate Vinod Mendha.