CEC threatened Bengal govt officers at meeting, ‘false bravado’ unacceptable: Mamata
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of threatening state officials during a meeting, and warned that “false bravado” by constitutional authorities was not acceptable.
Her remarks came against the backdrop of the Election Commission’s full bench meeting with senior administrative and police officials of the state earlier in the day, to review preparedness for the West Bengal assembly elections likely to be held in April.
Speaking from the site of her dharna in Kolkata against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Banerjee alleged that the CEC had adopted a threatening tone towards the state bureaucracy.
“The CEC threatened our officers today at the meeting. I want to tell the CEC that having courage is good, but false bravado is not good,” she asserted.
According to officials, Kumar said during the meeting that any lapse in maintaining law and order before the elections would not be tolerated, and strict action would follow if responsibilities were not discharged properly.
The CEC also questioned the absence of a Narcotics Advisory Committee in the state, and asked the officers to strengthen monitoring mechanisms ahead of the polls, they said.
Sharpening her attack on the poll panel, Banerjee alleged that the ongoing SIR exercise was being used to deprive people of their voting rights.
“We have only one point; everyone must be given the right to vote. We want to ensure voting rights for all,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said.
She also claimed that intimidation and deletion of names from electoral rolls were being employed as political tools.
“If you think you can capture power by attacking people, intimidating them and removing names from the voters’ list, that will not happen,” the CM said.
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Yadagiri court dismisses self-styled godman Mallikarjun Mutya bail plea in POCSO case
Yadagiri: The District Court on Monday rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by Mallikarjun Muthya of Mahal Roja in Shahapur taluk.
Muthya, a self-styled godman is facing charges in a POCSO case lodged at Gogi Police Station, for alleged inappropriate behavior with a minor girl.
A video of the incident allegedly went viral over social media prompting the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to register a suo motu complaint against him.
Muthya had filed anticipatory bail plea in the district court.
The District Sessions Court Judge Marula Siddharadhya, who heard the plea on Monday, rejected it.
According to reports, the godman is likely to approach the high court on Tuesday seeking a bail.
Mutya, who is believed to be around 26–27 years old, has gained popularity in recent years through social media platforms, on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
He is widely known as “Appaji” among his followers. According to local reports, he is revered by many devotees in North Karnataka and surrounding districts, who regard him as a “walking god” or a local deity.
He has become widely known over the past four years due to his active presence on social media and has drawn attention for his sometimes controversial “miracles.”
