JMM alleges 500 CRPF personnel tried to enter Soren's house during ED questioning, seeks probe
Ranchi, Jan 21: Alleging that around 500 CRPF personnel tried to enter Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's residence without "any permission" when he was being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the ruling JMM on Sunday sought an investigation into it.
In a statement, the party claimed it was illegal and aimed at provoking Soren's supporters who were demonstrating nearby, so that they attack the CRPF personnel.
The ED questioned Soren on Saturday in connection with a money laundering case linked to land deals.
Around 2,000 security personnel were deployed, and prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC were also imposed around the CM's house, the statement issued by JMM general secretaries Supriyo Bhattacharya and Vinod Kumar Pandey said.
"In the meantime, hundreds of CRPF personnel, around 500, in buses tried to enter CM residence without any permission or information. The act is provocative and illegal," it alleged.
"They wanted the agitators and party workers to attack CRPF personnel so that the state government can be accused of failure of the constitutional system and the ground for imposing President's rule can be prepared," it claimed.
The JMM said it wants the government to order a high-level probe into the matter and take legal action against CRPF officers.
"Otherwise, the party will adopt the path of agitation," it said.
Earlier, officials had said that security was tightened in the area with heavy deployment of forces in the wake of the attacks on ED officers during raids on TMC leaders in neighbouring West Bengal.
The opposition BJP, meanwhile, alleged that even as prohibitory orders were imposed, thousands of JMM workers gathered near CM's house "to threaten the ED officials".
"Instead of visiting to ED office, the CM calls the probe officials at his residence. On the other hand, party workers are allowed to gather near the CM's house. If there were no CRPF personnel, ED officers might have been in big trouble," BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said.
Instead of taking action against party workers for violating prohibitory orders, JMM was demanding action against CRPF, he added.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
