A case has been filed against Chattisgarh Congress Chief Bhupesh Baghel and some of his party men after they illegally protested outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer on November 19th, a day before the second phase elections in the state despite the area being under Section 144 of CrPC, reported Dainik Jagran.
According to reports, PCC Chief Bhupesh Baghel and other Congressmen were protesting against BJP’s National General Secretary and state in-charge Anil Jain and BJP leader Saudan Singh claiming that both BJP leaders were overstaying in the state even after election campaigning in Chattisgarh had ended.
The PCC Chief Baghel and others protesting outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer also claimed that someone had put up posters with an intent to create a caste divide in the state with falsely attributing those posters to Congress. Baghel and others reportedly protested by playing devotional songs at the premises of the Election Commission despite they were prohibited to do so. They had also alleged that a fake letter with names of a state Congress leader is being circulated on social media.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission had reported to the police officials regarding these incidents, after Congress allegedly created law and order issues even after Section 144 was imposed.
Taking it to cognisance, the Golabazar Police Station has now registered cases against Congress leaders under IPC section 188-Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant, IPC Section 151-Knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse and Section 126 of the of the Public Representation Act, 1951.
Additional SP Prafulla Thakur speaking to the media said that the case has been registered against the Congress leaders for protesting outside the Election Commission office even after the imposition of section 144 of CrPC.
Recently, In Chattisgarh, Congress leaders P L Punia, state head Bhupesh Baghel and others had also registered its first protest with the state Chief Electoral Officer alleging EVM tampering. The Congress party had claimed that a tehsildar and few others had entered the strong room where EVMs were kept before counting.
Elections were held in Chhattisgarh in two phases, the second phase of polls concluded on 20th November. The results will be declared on 11th December 2018 along with other states, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.