Contenders booked for organising public event and offering Paithani sarees as inducements to influence women voters in the area
The accused candidates contesting the Panvel Municipal Corporation elections. Pic/By Special Arrangement
Kalamboli police have registered a case against four Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates contesting the Panvel Municipal Corporation elections for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct by holding a public programme and distributing sarees as inducements to voters.
According to police, the incident occurred on January 12 between 5 pm and 9 pm on New Bus Depot Road in the Rohipoli area of Sector 16, Kalamboli. The event, titled ‘Khel Paithanicha’, was allegedly organised while election norms were in force, with Paithani sarees offered to women through a lucky draw to influence voting.
Senior Inspector Rajendra Kote, Kalamboli police, said, “Such activities amount to an attempt to influence voters and are in direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct.” Based on a complaint filed by Vinay Balkrishna Shipai, assistant election officer for wards 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Kalamboli, a non-cognisable offence has been registered under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The accused have been identified as BJP’s authorised candidates from ward No. 7 — Amar Arun Patil, Pramila Ravindra Patil, Manali Amar Thakur, and Rajendra Sharma, all residents of the Kalamboli-Panvel region. Police said the programme was projected as a cultural activity, but involved material inducements, which are prohibited under election rules.
Kote added that no arrests have been made and no materials have been seized so far. “Senior officers from the Kharghar division and Kalamboli police station visited the venue, documented the incident, and registered the case. Further legal action will be taken after seeking necessary court permissions, as required under BNS provisions,” he said.
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