Plea against Modi in poll code breach case dismissed

A local court on Monday dismissed an application which had sought action against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for violation of election-related laws during last year’s Lok Sabha elections.

Chief judicial magistrate, Ahmedabad rural court, SR Sinh, rejected the petition filed by Nishant Verma, a worker of Aam Aadmi Party. “Records produced before this court do not reveal any material necessary for taking cognisance,” the order said.

“The investigation (by detection of crime branch of city police)...is just and proper...no prima facie case against any accused is made out,” the court said. On April 30, 2014, as the voting for 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat was still underway, Modi – then BJP's prime ministerial candidate – addressed the press immediately after casting his own vote at a school in Ranip area here. He also took selfies with the party symbol lotus.

It had triggered a controversy and the Election Commission directed Ahmedabad crime branch to register FIR and probe the alleged breach of poll code. police lodged the FIR under Section 126 (1)(a) of Representation of People Act (RPA) for holding a public meeting and under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code for “violating” election notification, apart from Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code which prohibits unlawful assembly. 

Verma had, however, approached Ranip police, seeking registration of FIR also under Section 130 of RPA and sections 114 and 171 (c) of Indian Penal Code.