From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Oct 26: Even as polling day for the two crucial by-elections for the Rajarajeshwari and Sira is nearing and all the main political contenders in the fray are doing their best to win the seats, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee on Monday petitioned to the Election Commission of India on the violation of model code of conduct by BJP candidate Munirathna in Rajarajeshwarinagar Assembly constituency for his alleged corrupt practices committed by broadcasting 'Munirathna Cinema' and 'Munirathna Telugu' through cable network owned by him.
It also alleged that television channels through his cable network displaying Munirathna’s name and photograph for viewers in the constituency.
“In the midst of election campaign, voters have brought to the notice of our candidate Kusuma H, her agent and other leaders of our party, that the BJP candidate Munirathna has been violating the model code of conduct using his capacity as the Additional director of Rockline Telecommunications Private Limited is continuing to broadcast the television channels owned by him such as Munirathna Cinema and Munirathna Telugu etc., through cable network and the said broadcast is through set top box provided by him which display his photo and name”, the Congress claimed.
In a complaint to the CEC through the CEO of Karnataka, KPCC working president Saleem Ahmed and former MP and legal cell chairman V S Ugrappa alleged that the BJP candidate freely distributed more than 50,000 setup boxes, each costing not less than Rs 1,000 in R R Nagar
"On October 26, while in campaign in the constituency, Munirathna himself stated that he has distributed set-top boxes to voters,’’ they alleged.
“These acts of Munirathna is nothing but a bribe and undue influence on the voters for the furtherance of the prospects of his election which is an offence punishable under the provision of IPC and Representation of Peoples Act 1951 and the model code of conduct,” the Congress said.
It further said Munirathna has waived off the payment of charges for utilizing cable TV services provided for the past two months in view of the by-elections.
The Congress leaders urged officials concerned to take steps to stop the cable television services being broadcast by Munirathna which display his name and photo and to register a criminal case against him for his bribing the voters.
The Congress has field Kusuma H, wife of IAS officer D K Ravi who had committed suicide in the Rajarajeshwarinagar assembly constituency.
In another compliant to the ECI, the Congress alleged that assistant commissioners of police Venkatesh Naidu, Malleshwarm sub-division and Srinivas Reddy, ACP, Yeshwanthpur sub-division have been directing subordinate police officers in R R Nagar to register cases against workers and agents who were working in favour of Kusuma.
Police officials working at the behest of Munirathna and registered cases against Congress workers, the complaint said.
The party has urged the ECI to direct the authorities concerned to file criminal cases against police officials and Munirathna under the IPC sections for violation of model code of conduct and their illegal acts.