FIR lodged against Priyanka: BJP warns of action against Priyanka over her social media post alleging corruption by MP govt

PTI, Indore and Bhopal, Aug 12, 2023 : The Indore Police on Saturday said it has registered an FIR against the “handlers” of the ‘X’ accounts of senior Congress leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, MP Congress chief Kamal Nath and former union minister Arun Yadav over a post accusing the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh of corruption.

In a statement released on Twitter, now known as X, the Indore Police Commissioner said late on Saturday night that local BJP’s legal cell convenor Nimesh Pathak complained that a fake letter bearing the name of a person called Gyanendra Awasthi was circulated on social media.

The letter claimed that the contractors in the state are being asked to pay 50 percent commission.

A case has been registered against Awasthi as well as the “handlers” of the ‘X’ accounts of Vadra, Nath and Arun Yadav at the city’s Sanyogitaganj police station, the release said, adding Pathak’s complaint is being investigated.

Earlier in the day, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Ramsanehi Mishra claimed that an FIR was registered against the Twitter “handles” of Vadra, Nath and Arun Yadav at Sanyogitaganj police station in the city.

He said the case was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating) and 469 (forgery with intent to harm reputation) on Pathak’s complaint.

Pathak alleged that the Congress leaders conspired to malign the image of the state government and his party by sharing “misleading” social media posts and accusing the BJP regime in the state of being involved in corruption.

The official said the police are verifying the authenticity of the respective Twitter handles.

On Friday, Vadra claimed on X that a union of contractors from Madhya Pradesh has written a letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court complaining their payment is released only after paying 50 per cent commission.

“The corrupt BJP government in Karnataka used to collect 40% commission. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has gone ahead by breaking its own record of corruption. People of Karnataka ousted the 40% commission government, now the people of Madhya Pradesh will remove the 50% commission government from power,” she alleged in the post.

Nath and Yadav also made similar posts.

Terming Priyanka Gandhi’s allegation false, MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra earlier sought proof from the Congress leader to support her charge, warning that options were otherwise open before the state government and the BJP for legal action. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the opposition party was spreading lies. On Friday evening, the Gwalior police registered a case against a few people in connection with Priyanka Gandhi’s post. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Madhya Pradesh warned of action against Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over her social media post, in which she accused the saffron party-led government in the state of indulging in corruption.

Terming her allegation as false, MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra sought a proof from the Congress leader to support her charge, warning that options were otherwise open before the state government and the BJP for action.

State BJP chief V D Sharma warned of legal action against the Congress leader, accusing her of citing a fake letter in her social media post to level the allegation.

The state Congress, however, said it would prove that the BJP-led government is corrupt and also accused the ruling party of creating “political terror”.

On Friday, Priyanka Gandhi claimed on X, formerly known as Twitter, that a union of contractors from Madhya Pradesh has written a letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court, complaining that they receive payment only after paying 50 per cent commission.

“The corrupt BJP government in Karnataka used to collect 40% commission. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP has gone ahead by breaking its own record of corruption. People of Karnataka ousted the 40% commission government, now the people of Madhya Pradesh will remove the 50% commission government from power,” she alleged in the post.

Responding to her allegation, Mishra said that in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress was playing politics “with a disgusting mentality” without any issue.

“State Congress leaders first got Rahul Gandhi to lie and now got Priyanka Gandhi to make a false tweet. Priyanka ji, give proof of your tweets, otherwise we have all options open for action,” the minister warned.

He said that Priyanka Gandhi should reveal the name of the person or contractor who wrote the letter to the high court chief justice that she mentioned in her social media post.

Talking to reporters, state BJP chief Sharma accused the Congress of being power hungry and desperate to be at the helm by peddling lies.

“This is a conspiracy and BJP will take action for this tweet under cyber crime…She will have to tell from where did she get this letter. You (Priyanka Gandhi) misled not only Madhya Pradesh, but the country on the basis of a fake letter,” he said.

“Congress leadership will have to give an answer on this. We will take legal action in this regard,” he added.

K K Mishra, MP Congress media department’s chairman, said his party would prove that the BJP government is corrupt.

“The BJP should accept the reality, but the ruling party has been creating political terror…It is adopting unconstitutional means. We will prove that the government is corrupt,” he said.

Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh are due in November this year.