Leh: A fact-finding inquiry into complaints that BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir tried to bribe the media persons with money-filled envelops, has prima facie found merit in the allegations.
It can be recalled that on May 4, the Press Club Leh had accused the BJP of handing money to its members to report in the party’s favour ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Ladakh.
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 them money to influence the outcome of elections.
Leh District election officer and deputy commissioner Avny Lavasa, who ordered the inquiry, said that although the allegations were of a violation of the model code of conduct, it amounted to a criminal offence.
An Indian Express report quoted Lavasa as saying that the allegations were found to be prima facie correct. “We wrote to the 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.
“We approached the district court through the police and sought directions for the registration of an FIR in the matter. The court has, however, not yet issued any order in the matter,” she said.
Denying the allegations, Raina said that the envelopes, which party leaders including Randhawa had given to press persons at their May 2 press conference in Leh, contained invitation cards for a public rally which was to be addressed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after two days. Claiming that the allegations were “politically motivated”, Raina threatened to file a defamation suit if the press club did not issue a public apology.
