Gujarat man's arrest in drugs case sparks political slugfest as Cong claims he is linked with BJP
Surat (PTI): A political slugfest has erupted between the BJP and Congress in Gujarat after the latter alleged that a man held in a drugs case in Surat was close to several top leaders of the ruling party, including Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi and the party's state chief C R Paatil.
In its response, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the drug peddler's arrest shows that police under the party-led government have zero tolerance on the issue of drugs and action will be taken against culprits irrespective of their political affiliations.
Based on a specific tip-off, the Surat police on Monday raided a hotel in Salabatpura area of the city and nabbed three persons and recovered from them 910 grams of mephedrone drug worth Rs 35.49 lakh, Surat police commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot said.
The arrested accused were identified as Chetan Shahu, a resident of Udaipur in Rajasthan, and two men from Surat - Anishkhan Pathan and Vikas Ahir.
A preliminary probe revealed that Shahu, a drug supplier, came to Surat from Rajasthan to deliver the drugs to Pathan and Ahir, who sell the narcotic substance to drug addicts through their network of paan and ice-cream parlours in the city, Gehlot said.
When asked about Ahir's political affiliation, Gehlot said Ahir is known to be a history-sheeter and such people try to associate themselves with a political party or influential people to hide their illegal activities.
In a release, Surat police said Ahir already faces six different FIRs related to kidnapping, rioting and assault.
After Ahir's arrest, several Congress leaders, including Surat's Aslam Cyclewala posted several photographs wherein Ahir can be seen with Sanghavi, Paatil and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
He further claimed that Ahir has been working as Gujarat president of Yogi's Hindu Yuva Vahini since long.
In a Facebook post, the Gujarat Congress alleged that Ahir was a member of the BJP and sought to know if he used to give commission to senior BJP leaders sitting in 'Kamalam', the BJP's state headquarters in Gandhinagar.
In a statement, Gujarat BJP's media coordinator Yagnesh Dave claimed that Ahir's arrest proves that the BJP government does not spare anyone.
"For the BJP government, a criminal is a criminal, irrespective of his political affiliation. We never tried to shield anyone and that's why nearly 3,500 persons involved in the drug trade were arrested during the last five years in Gujarat," he said.
"By sharing these photographs, the Congress has proved that we have taken action against everyone. If a person is involved in a crime, we do not see his political affiliation before taking action and this case proves it," he added.
Not so Breaking: In Surat, Vikas Ahir, A drug peddler with close connection to BJP Ministers and Home Minister of Gujarat was arrested along with three other accused Chetan Kumar Sahu, Anees and Aziz. According to Surat Police, He runs multiple Icecream/Pan parlours and supplies… pic.twitter.com/JGwHwCrGS9
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) July 22, 2024
You'll hardly see this News being reported by Mainstream News Channels. You know the reason 👇🏽 https://t.co/w2IdoPQjYt
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) July 22, 2024
RSS activist and Surat BJYM member Vikas Ahir who was arrested by Surat Police for smuggling drugs via icecream parlour was also an Anti Drug campaigner too.... 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/NBcBb0yNUs
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) July 22, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sringeri postal ballot recount: Cong MLA Raje Gowda’s tally reduced by 255 votes
Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka) (PTI): After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled for Congress MLA T D Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission for further decision, he said.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on the election petition filed by BJP’s defeated candidate D N Jeevaraj challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting took place on Saturday and continued until midnight.
Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes.
“The High Court on April 6 had ordered reverification and recounting. As per that order, the exercise has been completed. The court order did not direct us to announce the results; it also did not refer to EVM votes. The order was specific only to postal ballots,” returning officer Gaurav Kumar Shetty said.
Speaking to reporters late on Saturday night, he said, “During the 2023 vote counting, Jeevaraj had received 692 votes, while Raje Gowda had received 569 votes. Now, after reverification and recounting, Jeevaraj has 690 valid votes, which is two votes less than earlier, while Raje Gowda has 314 votes, a difference of 255 votes.”
After the reverification and recounting as per the court order, the strong room was sealed, and a report was sent to the Election Commission.
The returning officer said that as per Election Commission rules, there are clear guidelines on how to accept or reject a vote, and the procedure was followed accordingly.
Regarding allegations of vote tampering, he said the allegations are criminal in nature and do not fall under his jurisdiction.
Jeevaraj, speaking to reporters, said, “As per the current count, I have the majority. Officials have said that the Election Commission will make the formal announcement. I will wait for the Commission’s order.”
Raje Gowda expressed doubts about “vote tampering” and demanded a detailed inquiry into Jeevaraj and others. He said he would file a case in this regard.
“There are markings on the ballots polled in my favour. Different ink has been used; it is clearly visible. During the 2023 counting, all those ballots were deemed valid in the presence of counting agents of all parties. Now, such votes have been declared invalid, bringing down my tally,” he told reporters.
Raje Gowda and his supporters had earlier celebrated on Saturday, claiming the results were in their favour.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar on Sunday alleged a “big conspiracy” in Sringeri.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said the Congress would take up the matter legally and would pursue all possible steps from the government.
“No one can imagine that they (the BJP) will indulge in such criminal activity. This is evidence of how former MLA Jeevaraj misused officials close to him. I have received a report, and I am studying it. It is systematic criminal activity. I will go through the report and take further action. I had been watching developments overnight,” he added.
State BJP president B Y Vijayendra said that, as per his information, the Congress was pressuring officials not to declare the results.
Speaking to reporters in Tumakuru, he said, “Jeevaraj, after losing the election, went to court. Now, after the High Court order, recounting has happened, and Jeevaraj has won by 56 votes. There appears to be a conspiracy by the ruling Congress to delay the announcement of results to allow Raje Gowda time to approach the High Court.”
Jeevaraj has already faced “injustice” for about three years by being denied the MLA post, Vijayendra said. “The injustice should not continue, and the Congress should accept the mandate of the people.”
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka accused the Congress and its leader, Rahul Gandhi, of “vote theft.”
“The Congress, which has been illegitimately enjoying power in the Sringeri Assembly seat for the past three years, now faces humiliation. This is not merely the victory of one individual; it is the victory of democracy. It is a hard-earned triumph for the value of the votes cast by Sringeri’s voters,” he posted on X, congratulating Jeevaraj.
