Day before Maharashtra voting, BJP’s Vinod Tawde accused of distributing cash; EC says nearly Rs 10 lakh found in hotel room; FIR filed

The police have registered an FIR in the matter.

After the row, which went on for over three hours, it was decided that a joint press conference of Hitendra Thakur, his son Kshitij, Tawde, and BJP’s candidate Rajan Naik would be held at the hotel.

However, EC officials stopped the press conference just as it started, saying it was illegal to hold it a day before voting.

Hitendra Thakur, his son Kshitij, and Tawde left together in a car.

Tawde said they were going for lunch and is set to hold a press conference at 6 pm.

Meanwhile, Thakur-led BVA’s official candidate from Dahanu Assembly seat, Suresh Padvi, joined the BJP on Tuesday and declared his support for BJP’s official candidate Vinod Mendha.

BJP dismisses allegations

The BVA, led by Vasai-Virar MLA Hitendra Thakur, claimed that Tawde was caught red-handed with cash.

Tawde, however, denied the allegations and demanded the Election Commission (EC) conduct a fair and unbiased inquiry into the matter.

State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule issued a statement saying it is a conspiracy to malign Tawde’s image.

The opposition has realised the ground slipping under its feet and is resorting to baseless allegations, Bawankule added.

Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar of the BJP dismissed the allegations as ridiculous.

“Vinod Tawde is a national general secretary. Is he going to distribute money at ward levels? If tomorrow someone from the BJP claims Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar are distributing money, I will admonish him then and there,” he said.

“Such serious charges against Tawde are part of a design to malign the BJP by some in Opposition parties as they don’t have public support.”

The BVA alleged that its workers found a diary in Tawde’s bag containing entries related to cash distribution.

Hitendra Thakur asks why BJP leader’s in Virar

Hitendra Thakur asked why the BJP leader was in Virar after the campaigning ended on Monday evening.

Nalasopara MLA Kshitij Thakur, who is also the Vasai-Virar MLA’s son, was also present when BVA workers gheraoed Tawde.

He reportedly snatched the diary from the BJP leader.

Hitendra Thakur demanded action from the EC and police, claiming he had received information that Tawde was coming to the Virar hotel with Rs 5 crore.

He showed the diary on television, stating, “I was told by BJP leaders that Tawde was coming to Virar to distribute money. Initially, we did not believe it as he is a national leader, but when we found him with money, we sought answers.”

“The hotel administration had switched off the CCTV cameras. Action should be taken against the hotel as well. The only reason the CCTV was turned off was that money distribution was going on,” he added.

Tawde says here for BJP meet

For his part, Tawde said he was there for a meeting of BJP workers.

“Today we had a meeting of party workers about tomorrow’s voting. The other side had a misunderstanding that I was here to distribute money. I know Appa (Hitendra Thakur) and Kshitij. I told them that if they want to check, they can. I request the Election Commission to conduct an unbiased inquiry,” he said.

Tawde alleged that the hotel’s CCTV cameras were not working and demanded action against the hotel as well.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi criticised the BJP over the incident.

“I have come here to have a darshan of Goddess Tulja Bhavani. When I arrived, my bags were checked, but nothing was found. I learned from the media that cash was found in the bags of Vinod Tawde. Yesterday, there was an attack on NCP leader Anil Deshmukh… Who was supposed to check all this? So I prayed to the goddess that this corrupt government should go soon,” Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray said.