BJP moves EC, seeks Cong Bellary MP E Tukaram's disqualification over 'under-reporting' poll expense
New Delhi, Oct 22: The BJP on Tuesday approached the Election Commission with a demand to disqualify Congress Bellary MP E Tukaram, alleging illegal money was used to influence voters in his constituency during the Lok Sabha polls, and he did not show the actual expenditure incurred in the election.
In a separate memorandum to the poll panel, the Karnataka BJP delegation, led by its president Vijayendra Yediyurappa, also demanded action against the Congress government in the state, alleging it violated the Model Code of Conduct by giving "full page advertisements" to influence voters ahead of assembly bypolls on three seats.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Yediyurappa said the BJP delegation demanded the election commission that Tukaram be disqualified as "money siphoned off from the Karnataka Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited" was used to influence voters in his constituency during the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.
ALSO READ: Bellary MP E Tukaram's wife Annapurna to fight from Sandur: CM Siddaramaiah
He claimed that Rs 187 crore was siphoned off from the KVSTDC Limited and used by the Congress during the Lok Sabha elections in the state and elsewhere.
"This has been exposed," he told reporters, referring to the findings of an Enforcement Directorate probe into the case.
"We have requested the election commission to initiate action. Since the elected Member of Parliament E Tukaram has violated all the norms and exceeded the limit of expenditure also, we requested the Election Commission to take serious note of it and disqualify him," he added.
Yediyurappa said the Congress government in Karnataka has violated the Model Code of Conduct by giving full page advertisements and making "false" claims ahead of the by-polls to be held in the state's three assembly constituencies.
"This is a clear violation of the Model Code of conduct. We have requested the Chief Election Commissioner to take necessary action against the state government," the Karnataka BJP chief told reporters.
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CPI(M) MLA Mukesh arrested in sexual assault case, released on bail
Thrissur (Kerala), Oct 22: CPI(M) MLA and actor M Mukesh has been arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with a 2010 sexual assault case in the central Kerala district of Thrissur.
His lawyer confirmed that the MLA was arrested on Monday, his medical examination and potency test were carried out and then he was released as he had been granted anticipatory bail in the case by a sessions court on September 24.
Two cases have been registered against Mukesh, one by the Wadakkanchery police and the other by the Maradu police and in both he has got anticipatory bail.
According to the police, the complainant in the case at Wadakkanchery is the same female actor on whose complaint a FIR has been lodged against him at Maradu police station.
The actor has claimed that the charges were the result of his refusal to succumb to blackmail attempts by the complainant.
Multiple FIRs have been registered against several high-profile Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment against various directors and actors, sparked by revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report.
The committee was established by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case. Its report highlighted instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.
In response to these allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation involving several actors and directors, the state government announced the formation of a seven-member Special Investigation Team on August 25 to investigate the claims.
