Screening of documentary: Case against Som in UP
MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT The controversial BJP legislator was booked under the National Security Act in connection with Muzaffarnagar riots
MEERUT: Controversial BJP legislator Sangeet Som on Wednesday was charged with instigating communal hatred in his constituency in Uttar Pradesh after his supporters screened a documentary that allegedly polarised voters.
On Tuesday night, police seized a pen drive and a vehicle from Som’s supporter Shekhar and a driver in Alamgir Faridpur village.
Police charged them under Section 188 of the IPC and booked Som under the People’s Representation Act.
They were accused of screening the documentary glorifying Som in his constituency, Sardhana, without seeking the nod of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The documentary purportedly showed Som’s role in the Bisada and Kanth incidents, and his arrest from Salawa village after the Muzaffarnagar riots, thereby projecting him as the saviour of Hindus.
The BJP MLA was booked under the National Security Act in connection with Muzaffarnagar riots and had visited Bisada village of Dadri after a mob lynched a Muslim man on suspicion of consuming beef in September 2015.
He also participated in the party’s movement in Kanth in Moradabad where two communities came face-to-face over the removal of a loudspeaker from a temple during Ramzan.
Villagers, who informed police about the documentary, claimed it was screened “deliberately” to instigate communal passions.
A team of officials examined the contents of the 20-minute documentary and found it unfit for screening.
SP (rural) Shravan Kumar Singh said Som’s aide took per- mission for the election campaign, but did not seek required certification for the content of the documentary.
The model code of conduct is in place in Uttar Pradesh, which goes to polls in seven phases — from February 11 to March 8.
FIR AGAINST BJP CANDIDATE, SP LEADER
MUZAFFARNAGAR: The district administration has registered an FIR against the BJP candidate from Muzaffarnagar Sadar seat and a Samajwadi Party leader for violating the election code.
It is learnt that just after the declaration of the name of Kapil Deo Aggrawal as the BJP candidate on the seat, his supporters gathered at Shiv Chowk late on Monday for celebration, which continued for more than half-anhour.
Similarly, after news spread that UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was given the party symbol of the bicycle by the EC, party leader Gaurav Jain and his supporters celebrated before his residence at Lohia Bazar and also burst some crackers.