A fact-finding inquiry into allegations against Jammu & Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party leaders for “handing over money to journalists to report in favour of the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections” has found prima facie merit in the charges.
Leh District election officer and deputy commissioner Avny Lavasa, who ordered the inquiry, said that although the complaints allege violation of the model code of conduct by BJP leaders, it amounted to a criminal offence.
An Indian Express report quoted Lavasa as saying that the allegations were found prima facie correct. “We wrote to police to file either an FIR or a complaint,” Lavasa said, adding that the police filed a complaint and put it up before the court on Tuesday.
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A two-page letter signed by several members of the Press Club has been circulating on social media, seeking an FIR against BJP state president Ravinder Raina and MLC Vikram Randhawa for allegedly trying to bribe journalists by offering money to influence the outcome of elections.
In video clips that began doing the rounds on social media, some BJP leaders could be seen distributing envelopes to four-five media persons, including two women journalists. A woman journalist was seen opening the envelope and, after looking in, rushes towards a BJP leader to return it. When the BJP leader refuses to take the envelope from her, she leaves it on a table.
However, the charge was denied by the BJP, which said the allegations were “politically motivated”. BJP state president Ravinder Raina also threatened to file a defamation suit if the body did not issue a public apology. “The BJP will not tolerate such allegations. It will file a defamation suit in the high court against the press club if it fails to make a public apology,” Raina said.
The Ladakh seat went to polls in the fifth phase Monday.
