Australian news broadcaster releases video of BJP worker trying to bribe cops ahead of polling
BJP worker was caught on video allegedly plotting to bribe officials in UP's Sambhal constituency
A video obtained by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) purportedly shows a BJP worker, Bhuvnesh Kumar Varshney, planning to bribe police and polling officials in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal constituency ahead of the May 7 election. ABC has stated that they have independently verified the authenticity of the video.
The footage, shared by ABC News' South Asia Bureau Chief and Correspondent Meghna Bali on her X (formerly known as Twitter) handle, features Varshney outlining a strategy to manipulate the election process. The caption read, “The ABC has obtained and verified a video showing a BJP worker named Bhuvnesh Kumar Varshney plotting to bribe police and polling officials in UP's Sambhal constituency before the May 7 poll. Watch the full video below with captions.”
In the video, Varshney is heard instructing others on how to create disturbances at polling stations without resorting to violence. "The [polling] agent will challenge the voter by accusing him of voting on forged documents," he is seen saying. "Do not use violence, no use of firearms and any other weapon, don’t physically assault anyone. You just need to create a fake scene so there will be chaos, so women will stop coming to polling station."
Varshney further suggests that the disruption would lead to a lower voter turnout. He also advises the bribing of police officers at polling booths, specifying amounts: 500 rupees for officials and 100 rupees for juniors. "Keep money in their pocket saying this is for tea only, not for anything else," he purportedly instructs.
On May 10, various media outlets, including Scroll, reported allegations of police misconduct during the polling in Sambhal. The Uttar Pradesh police were accused of storming booths, confiscating identity cards, and assaulting voters, particularly in Muslim-majority villages that previously supported the Opposition Samajwadi Party. The Samajwadi Party had won the Sambhal parliamentary seat by a margin of 1.7 lakh votes in the 2019 elections.
Varshney, the ABC reported, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police days before the May 7 election. According to the report, he was detained "under a section of law aimed at preventing the disturbance of peace.”
The ABC has obtained and verified a video showing a BJP worker named Bhuvnesh Kumar Varshney plotting to bribe police and polling officials in UP's Sambhal constituency before the May 7 poll. Watch the full video below with captions. pic.twitter.com/TWeihzlEDL
— Meghna Bali (@meghnabali) May 24, 2024
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Delhi: Couple held for stealing cash, valuables from elderly people travelling in e-rickshaws
New Delhi (PTI): A couple has been arrested for allegedly stealing cash or valuables from elderly passengers travelling in e-rickshaws in west Delhi's Moti Nagar area, police said on Sunday.
The accused has been identified as Suresh (25) and his wife, the police said, adding that they were apprehended after an investigation into the theft of Rs 1 lakh from a 60-year-old passenger earlier this week.
According to the police, the complainant, a resident of Kirti Nagar, had hired an e-rickshaw from a showroom on Shivaji Marg on May 13.
The man was carrying a small bag containing Rs 1 lakh cash. After reaching his destination, he found that the bag had been torn and the cash was missing, they said.
An e-FIR was registered at Moti Nagar police station on May 14 and an investigation was launched. A team analysed CCTV footage from the route taken by the complainant and identified the e-rickshaw allegedly used in the crime.
"Using technical surveillance and local inputs, the accused couple was traced and apprehended," a senior police officer said.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that they used to target elderly passengers travelling in e-rickshaws and steal cash and valuables from their bags during transit without raising suspicion.
Police recovered Rs 90,000 of the stolen amount from the possession of the accused along with the e-rickshaw used in the commission of the offence.
"The accused had no previous criminal involvement on record. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the couple was involved in other similar theft cases targeting passengers and senior citizens in different parts of the city," the police officer added.
