Probe after video shows men distributing money
BHARATPUR: After some men were caught on camera distributing money to voters two days before the sarpanch election in a gram panchayat of Bharatpur, the district collector has ordered a probe.
The video is purportedly of Sahsan gram panchayat in Pahari block where polling will be held on Friday.
In the video, some men are seen distributing sweet boxes which contain Rs 2,000 note to voters, apparently to lure them to vote for a particular candidate. The boxes also had vote appeal for Tahira Khan, one of the candidates.
The cover of the box has photos of her husband Mohammad Zubair Jaildar and her father-inlaw, apart from her election symbol – brush – and an appeal, ‘jan jan ki yahi pukaar, Zubair sarpanch teesri baar’ (Everyone is calling for the third term of Zubair as sarpanch).
Tahira Khan has been sarpanch from the gram panchayat for last two terms. Sahsan gram panchayat has about 5,000 voters. The post of sarpanch is reserved for a woman of general category. Seven candidates, including the incumbent sarpanch, are contesting for the post.
Bharatpur district collector Nathmal Didel said he got the video and ordered the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) to investigate into the charges of distribution of money to voters, which is a clear violation of the code of conduct. “We will take necessary action after getting report from the committee of SDM, patwari and gram sewak,” he said. Pahari SDM Jagdish Arya said the probe panel visited the gram panchayat on Wednesday evening. “We will submit our report to the collector today (Friday),” he said.
Meanwhile, Zubair Jaildar said it was a conspiracy to use his photo on the sweet boxes. “The rival candidates have done this to ruin our election. I will register complaint with police and district administration against this,” he said.
Sarpanch candidate, Tahira Khan, did not comment on the controversy.