Five booked after Sharad Pawar-led NCP alleges cash distribution in Baramati

The Pune Police in Maharashtra on Tuesday registered a noncognisable offence against five persons after the Sharad Pawarled Nationalist Congress Party NCP alleged that some individuals belonging to the Ajit Pawarled NCP distributed cash to voters in Bhor town of the district ahead of the voting in Baramati for Lok Sabha elections 2024 an official said reported the PTIThe Sharad Pawarled NCP SP lodged a complaint with the Election Commission EC against the alleged distribution of money while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar refuted the charges against his party as per the PTINCP SP candidate Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawarled NCPs Sunetra Pawar are locked in a battle in Baramati Lok Sabha seat where polling is being held on TuesdaySupriya Sule is Ajit Pawars cousinNCP SP leader Rohit Pawar alleged that the cash was being distributed in Bhor by the ruling NCP and alleged that a cooperative bank in Bhor was kept open till late Monday nightSpeaking to PTI Pune Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh said A noncognisable offence has been registered against five persons following allegations that they were involved in the cash distribution in Bhor in the intervening night of Monday and TuesdaySome local people in Bhor alleged that a few people came in two to three cars and were involved in distributing cash he saidThe cars were stopped and people were taken out of the vehicles They had a minor scuffle at midnight Meanwhile a police team reached the spot and during the panchnama of the vehicle Rs 1500 cash and a party stole were found in the car he said according to the PTIThe case was registered under section 171 of the Indian Penal Code IPC the SP said adding that a probe was onThe NCP SP filed the complaint with the EC about distribution of money to voters in Bhor taluka of Baramati parliamentary constituency on behalf of the candidate of Ajit Pawarled NCPIn the complaint the Sharad Pawarled party said the culprits were caught redhanded in BhorIn an unprecedented manner making a mockery of elections and the rules such corrupt criminal and illegal practices are being blatantly conducted by the candidate of Ajit Pawarled NCP the complaint said as per the PTIThe party said that based on the complaint the poll panels flying squads seized cash campaign material of the clock symbol list of villages in Bhor assembly constituency and the list of votersPeoples power will prevail over money power it saidRefuting NCP SP leader Rohit Pawars charge of money distribution Ajit Pawar said it is the Election Commissions job to look into such thingsI have personally contested elections seven times and never indulged in such practices Right from the beginning of the campaign some sections of the opposition have been making such allegations against me but I dont pay any heed to them he saidThe person who is making such allegations has lost his balance I dont think I should give any importance to this person he saidMeanwhile Supriya Sule said I have contested the Lok Sabha election from Baramati three times but never saw such things like goons roaming around and banks being kept open till midnight also the use of money and its distribution intimidation and people getting caught the news agency reported on Tuesdaywith PTI inputs