Rajkot: Five individuals, including a former Congress corporator and the party's candidate for Ward No. 15, have been booked by the Thorala police for allegedly violating election norms. The group was found in possession of campaign materials within 100 metres of a polling station, which is strictly prohibited under election guidelines.
Details of the Incident
The complaint was lodged by Mayur Bhaliya, a zonal officer deputed in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) area. The accused have been identified as Makbul Daudani (41), the Congress candidate for Ward No. 15, along with Arif Sandhi (44), Wasim Khan Luwani (39), Hussein Pinjara (65), and Irfan Khan Baloch (31). Police officials confirmed that the accused were booked under Sections 223 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 135(1) of the Gujarat Police Act.
Sequence of Events
According to the complaint, Bhaliya was on patrol near RMC School No. 66, a designated polling station in Ward No. 15, when he spotted the group in possession of election-related materials within the restricted 100-metre zone. The seized items included a printer, a photocopy machine, cardboard sheets bearing the names of Congress candidates for use on EVM machines, and pamphlets kept in a cloth bag.
Action Taken
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Bharat Basiya and Special Operations Group Police Inspector S M Jadeja were among the officials present during the action. The five accused were detained and taken to the Thorala police station, where a case was registered against them. Police said notices were issued to all the accused, following which they were released.
This incident highlights the strict enforcement of election norms by the authorities to ensure a free and fair electoral process. Voters and candidates are reminded to adhere to the guidelines to avoid legal repercussions.
