Police complaints against AAP convoy for ‘skipping’ toll tax during Arvind Kejriwal’s visit

Dipendra Tomar, a private security guard at the toll plaza lodged a complaint at Samakhiali police station saying that the drivers of 10 to 15 vehicles in AAP’s convoy did not pay toll tax of Rs 50 each on March 6 when they drove through the toll gate.

Based on Tomar’s complaint, Samakhiali police have registered an FIR against unidentified drivers for allegedly violating a notification of National Highway Authority of  India (NHAI) mandating vehicle drivers to pay stipulate toll taxes. The drivers have been booked under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

“We have sought CCTV footage at the toll plaza and are also gathering other evidence. No detention or arrests have been made so far,” Samakhiali police sub-inspector Ashok Makwana said.

In Patan district, in a copycat case, a security supervisor of Varahi toll plaza, Mukeshdan Gadhvi lodged an FIR with Varahi police station against unidentified drivers of vehicles who crossed the toll plaza without paying taxes. The FIR states that there were people sitting in open jeeps holding banners of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on March 5. According to police sub-inspector NJ Jadeja, who is investigating the case, the men driving the vehicles are difficult to identify. The CCTV footage also doesn’t identify the persons sitting in the jeeps except the banners and brooms, which had symbols of AAP.

Patan Superintendent of Police Parikshita Rathod said that the security supervisor had first moved an applications in this regard and after investigating the allegation an FIR was lodged on Thursday.

However, Gujarat unit of AAP said they could not pay toll tax as “police had instructed them not to stop midway.”

“We are law abiding citizens and we had paid toll tax on the first day of the tour. But in Kutch, we had strict instructions from police not to stop midway to avoid trouble.  As we approached the toll plaza, gates of emergency lane were opened and we passed through. They (police) had made prior arrangement,” Anirudh Jadeja,  AAP organiser for Gujarat said.

Incidentally, this is second case with respect to Kejriwal’s day-long trip to Kutch. Gandhidham police had booked the former Delhi chief minister and five other AAP workers on March 6 after they allegedly used loudspeaker without requisite permission and thereby breaching notification of district magistrate.