BJP leader Vinod Tawde accused in cash-for-votes scandal ahead of Maharashtra Assembly polls
Mumbai: In a dramatic turn of events, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde was allegedly caught with cash at a hotel in Virar (East) on Wednesday morning, just hours after campaigning for the Maharashtra Assembly elections concluded. The incident has sparked a political storm, with allegations of electoral malpractice being leveled against the BJP.
Supporters of the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) stormed the Vivant Hotel in Manvelpada, where Tawde was reportedly meeting BJP candidate Rajan Naik and local leaders. The BVA members alleged they found Tawde distributing cash during the gathering. In a heated confrontation, BVA supporters reportedly flung cash at Tawde and called the police, who later escorted him away from the scene.
BVA President Hitendra Thakur accused Tawde of possessing ₹5 crore in cash and diaries containing names, purportedly for vote-buying purposes. Thakur alleged that the hotel gates were locked during the meeting, raising suspicions of an illicit gathering.
The BVA has also demanded an inspection of all 30 rooms at the hotel after ₹9 lakh in cash was reportedly found in one of the rooms. They expressed concerns over irregularities in the polling process, specifically highlighting webcasting at 507 polling booths in the Nalasopara constituency.
The Nalasopara constituency, currently represented by BVA MLA Kshitij Thakur, is witnessing a triangular contest among BJP's Rajan Naik, Congress's Sandeep Pandey, and BVA's candidate. BVA has called for strict action against Tawde, with Thakur alleging that the BJP leader had called him to apologize for his presence in Virar after the campaign period ended.
Reacting to the allegations, Tawde denied any wrongdoing, stating, "There are CCTV cameras in the hotel room. I simply came to meet party workers. For 40 years, I have been in politics and never distributed money." Tawde emphasized that Election Commission officials had videographed the room and urged for transparency in the investigation.
The controversy has led to sharp criticism from opposition parties. Congress candidates Sandeep Pandey and Vijay Patil demanded immediate police action, while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused the BJP of attempting to influence the elections through unethical means. "The BJP’s scheme has come to an end. Thakur has done what the Election Commission should have done," Raut wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Tuling Police in Nalasopara East have registered an FIR against Vinod Tawde under provisions of the Representation of the People’s Act. Election officials confirmed the seizure of ₹9 lakh in cash and other documents from the hotel.
BJP के राष्ट्रीय महासचिव विनोद तावड़े महाराष्ट्र के एक होटल में पैसे बांटते हुए पकड़े गए हैं।
— Congress (@INCIndia) November 19, 2024
विनोद तावड़े बैग में भरकर पैसे लेकर गए थे और वहां पर लोगों को बुला-बुलाकर पैसे बांट रहे थे।
ये खबर जब जनता को पता चली तो भारी हंगामा हो गया। पैसों के साथ विनोद तावड़े के कई वीडियो… pic.twitter.com/iqbMcGJtyQ
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
