The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
FIR against SP leader for ‘threat’ to poll officer
AN FIR has been filed against Sanatan Pandey, the Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate for the Ballia Lok Sabha seat, which votes on June 1, on charges of spreading enmity and threatening the district election officer. Pandey allegedly made these remarks while addressing the media on saturday in Ball ia, police said. questioning the Election Commission (EC), party chief Akhilesh Yadav later defended Pandey.
In the video circulating on social media, a person believed to be Pandey is heard saying that in 2019, the district administration had treated him unfairly. He claimed he had accepted defeat, citing his trust in the EC, and subsequently left the counting centre. Pandey alleged he was attacked outside the counting centre, and his vehicle was damaged by “people on the side of the government”. He also allegedly said he would not tolerate a repetition of such events this time. The Indian Express could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.
“If the people of Ballia decide to defeat me, I will gracefully accept it and exit the counting centre. However, if the people of Ballia make me the victor then neither the local administration nor the BJP will be able to prevent
me from obtaining my winning certificate,” he allegedly said, adding “if they do (prevent me), either my body or that of the collector’s will come out”.
Sub Inspector Makhan Singh, the complainant in the FIR, alleged that Pandey’s statements amounted to promoting enmity, hatred, and animosity among various segments of society. The complainant also alleged the remarks were aimed at exerting undue influence in the electoral process and causing obstruction and physical harm to the District Election Officer.
Reacting to the FIR, Akhilesh said, “Cases should also be registered against those who, from big stages, are making comments on the country’s Constitution, the ‘Ganga-jamuni Tehzeeb’ and brotherhood. Will the Election Commission take action against them?”
The case has been filed under four IPC sections along with sections of the Representation of the People Act.
In the 2019 polls, Pandey had secured a 45.79% vote share in Ballia and narrowly lost to the BJP’S Virendra Singh with 47.36%.