In legal trouble for Narendra Modi, the city crime branch today lodged an FIR against him for alleged violation of the election law following a directive from the Election Commission.
"Two FIRs have been registered by the city crime branch in connection with the events," Gujarat DGP P C Thakur told PTI when asked if the police has registered an FIR against Modi.
Sources in the crime branch said that as per EC directive, FIRs have been registered invoking sections specified by the poll panel.
Modi had triggered a controversy when he addressed a press conference immediately after casting his vote at a school at Ranip area of Ahmedabad, part of party veteran L K Advani's Gandhinagar seat, where he prominently displayed BJP's election symbol lotus.
The EC's order directing lodging of a complaint/FIR said Modi had violated the provisions of Sections 126 (1)(a) and 126 (l)(b) of Representation of People Act, 1951. The maximum punishment under these provisions of RPA is upto two years imprisonment.
Ahmedabad city police commissioner Shivanand Jha said the police had complied with the EC order and registered FIRs.
"We have complied with the Election Commission's order and sent our compliance report to them," he said.
The Congress party accused him of violating the election law and filed a complaint with the EC.
The EC order said, "The Commission is of the view that by holding that meeting and also by addressing the same today when the polling is going on in the entire state of Gujarat and in different parts of the country, Narendra Modi has violated the provisions of Sections 126 (1)(a) and 126 (l)(b) of R P Act 1951.
"Therefore, the Commission directs...That complaint/ FIR as the case may be, should be filed against Narendra Modi and all others who were involved in the convening and holding of the said meeting...," the EC order said.
It also said that all the TV channels and other electronic media which carried the proceedings of the meeting and displayed the election matter should also be proceeded against under Section 126 (l) (b) "by filing separate complaints/FlRs against those channels."
The panel had sought compliance by 6 PM.
According to the section 126 (1) (a) and (b), there is a prohibition of public meetings during period of 48 hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll.
