Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy today said the FIR registered against him and his supporters was politically motivated and he was least surprised as he had pointed this out in his letter to the Election Commission.Rudy has demanded countermanding of the April 26 polls in Chapra. ‘‘I have mentioned in my letter to the EC that the local administration is planning to set up criminal cases against me to prevent my movement on the day of repoll. So, this FIR did not come as a surprise.’’But there was some cheer in his camp after the EC decided to send an inquiry team to Chapra. Rudy described it as a positive response to his complaint. ‘‘The EC has stepped in as a saviour of democracy by deciding to send a team to ascertain facts on the ground. And I will abide by whatever decision is finalised.’’He alleged that criminals wanted in murder cases roamed Chapra harassing voters. ‘‘One Sunil Rai, who is accused in half-dozen murder cases, moved around freely with his gang on motorcycles. They indiscriminately fired shots and even killed dogs and goats to scare voters,’’ he said. According to Rudy, Central forces were deployed in only 20 pc of the booths in the constituency. Rudy pointed out that the FIR against him was filed by an RJD worker on a party letterhead bearing Laloo Yadav’s name.
