Scandal’ leads to last-minute flurry in Chandni Chowk

And it also led to the Delhi Police sending a report to the Election Commission for violation of the model code of conduct. Though the police caught a few persons carrying photostat copies of the pamphlet, no arrests were made since this did not constitute a cognisable offence. The offence constitutes violation of the Representation of the People’s Act and defamation — but neither of the two are cognisable offences.

The black and white printed pamphlet, giving details of his “second family” — a woman and a daughter — with their preciseaddress, was ostensibly issued in the “public interest” by the Kamla Nagar Mahila Matdata Samiti’. The pamphlet went on to say that the woman’s legal husband had been murderously attacked three times and a case (number 423/93) was already under trial at the Tis Hazari courts.

It further alleged that Vijay Goel was a corrupt man and involved in several land related disputes, the prime being the Chyawan Rishi Apartment’ scandal. Apart from the pamphlet, some posters in Urdu also came up which showed Goel advancing menacingly towards the Babri Masjid.

“This is hitting below the belt. Congress candidate J.P. Aggarwal probably got jittery because of the response Goel was getting from the people. And it was a very well planned move — just a day before the elections — so that Goel would be left with no time to react,” said Dharamvir Sharma, a BJP leader from Chandni Chowk.

Sharma added that they got to know about the handbill being distributed with the newspapers early yesterday morning itself. Theyregistered a case at the Lahori Gate police station. But during the day, they came across various instances of slanderous pamphlets being distributed and posters being stuck. These were subsequently reported at Daryaganj and Chandni Chowk police stations.

Though some persons were apprehended, the BJP supporters felt that the damage had been done. And a massive damage control exercise was launched. And along with this morning’s newspapers a broad-sheet size pamphlet was distributed extolling the virtues and dynamism of Vijay Goel.

“This too is a violation of the Election Code of Conduct and even this report has been duly sent to the Returning Officer of the constituency,” said S.N. Srivastava, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North district). None of the two reports sent to the Returning Officer name any of the candidates. Though one of the persons who was apprehended, Mahender Singh, had admitted to distributing the pamphlets, he did not say if somebody had instigated him to do so, added Srivastava. Areport was also sent to the Metropolitan Magistrate of the area and the case has been fixed up for a hearing on February 19.