Indore police file FIR after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s social media post on ‘50% commission government’

In a coordinated campaign, the Congress leaders had accused the BJP government of taking “50 per cent commission” — a rerun of the party’s tactic in the run-up to the Karnataka elections, when it targeted the state’s BJP government with the “40 per cent commission” tag. Madhya Pradesh heads to Assembly elections this year.

State Home Minister Narottam Mishra had warned of action after the accusations.

On August 11, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra claimed on X, formerly Twitter, that a union of contractors from Madhya Pradesh had written to the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Chief Justice complaining that they receive payments only after paying 50 per cent commission.

मध्यप्रदेश में कांग्रेस मुद्दा विहीन होकर घृणित मानसिकता के साथ राजनीति कर रही है।

प्रदेश कांग्रेस के नेताओं ने पहले राहुल गांधी जी से झूठ बुलवाया अब प्रियंका गांधी जी से झूठा ट्वीट करवाया।

प्रियंका जी आपने जो ट्वीट किये हैं उसके प्रमाण दो अन्यथा हमारे पास कार्यवाही के सारे… pic.twitter.com/j9FfajhA9c

— Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) August 12, 2023

“The corrupt BJP government in Karnataka used to collect 40% commission. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP has gone ahead by breaking its own record of corruption. People of Karnataka ousted the 40% commission government, now the people of Madhya Pradesh will remove the 50% commission government from power,” she alleged.

The FIR, filed Saturday on a complaint by an Indore-based BJP legal cell member, invoked IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 469 (forgery).

The Indore Police said that the FIR was registered against “accused Gyanendra Awasthi and handlers of Twitter account @MPArun Yadav, @OfficeOfKNath @priyankagandhi”.

The BJP legal cell member, Nimesh Pathak, said in his complaint that the letter was written by Awasthi. He said that when he enquired about Awasthi, he “didn’t get any information about any such association or person”.

मध्य प्रदेश में ठेकेदारों के संघ ने हाईकोर्ट के मुख्य न्यायाधीश को पत्र लिखकर शिकायत की है कि प्रदेश में 50% कमीशन देने पर ही भुगतान मिलता है।

कर्नाटक में भ्रष्ट BJP सरकार 40% कमीशन की वसूली करती थी। मध्य प्रदेश में BJP भ्रष्टाचार का अपना ही रिकॉर्ड तोड़कर आगे निकल गई है।… pic.twitter.com/LVemnZQ9b6

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 11, 2023

On Sunday, Congress workers and leaders protested in various districts of Madhya Pradesh over the police charges.

Reacting to the police complaint, Nath said: “There are thousands of corruption cases. BJP will file a case on how many? Now when the corruption is being exposed in the entire state, then what is the solution left with them? Ask the people here if the letter is fake or true. They will tell you about not one but 100-200 letters.”

Yadav reiterated his “50 per cent commission” charge and said the Congress was ready to fight the government.

After the Congress allegations on social media, BJP leaders moved swiftly on the issue.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered the intelligence department to probe the corruption claims, alleging that the Congress is using a planned agenda to defame the BJP state government and warning of legal consequences.

“It was found that this man does not exist and the address of the organisation mentioned in the letter is fake,” said Chouhan.

Mishra sought proof from Priyanka. “State Congress leaders first got Rahul Gandhi to lie and now got Priyanka Gandhi to make a false tweet. Priyanka ji, give proof of your tweets, otherwise we have all options open for action,” the Home Minister warned Saturday.