A local court here on Saturday asked the Ahmedabad Crime Branch to submit a report in a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi of violating the model code of conduct during the polling period.
After casting his vote on April 30 for the 16th Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Modi had displayed the lotus symbol and posed for a selfie at a press conference outside the polling booth. The police have to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) to the magistrate’s court by August 5. The court’s order came in response to a petition by Aam Aadmi Party leader Nishant Varma which seeks an FIR against Mr. Modi with additional charges.
The police had already registered an FIR against Mr. Modi on April 30, following the directions of the Election Commission of India.
“There are two inquiries. Both the matters are connected and the court has asked us for a progress report. Our investigation is on,” A.K. Sharma, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), told The Hindu .
Mr. Varma pointed out that the Crime Branch was supposed to submit an ATR to the court as the stipulated 60 days for filing the charge sheet were over. “It seems that the accused is misusing the political position held by him and the police it seems are not following the law,” he alleged.
