Maharashtra BJP leader accused of distributing cash, poll body files case

High drama unfolded a day ahead of Maharashtra Assembly polls as workers of a regional party gheraoed BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde, accusing him of distributing cash to influence voters in Palghar. While Tawde has denied the allegations, the Election Commission has filed an FIR against the senior BJP leader over cash-for-vote allegations.
A video that has gone viral shows Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) workers storming into the Vivanta Hotel in Palghar during a meeting between Tawde and Rajan Naik, the BJP candidate from the Nalasopara Assembly seat. The BVA workers alleged that Tawde was caught red-handed with Rs 5 crore cash.
However, BJP sources have claimed that Rs 9 lakh was found in the room which was to be spent on meals for party workers for election day. The same would be reflected in the candidate’s list of expenses for the polls, sources added.
The video shows the workers of the BVA taking out bundles of cash from a bag, while Tawde indicates that it does not belong to him.
BVA leader Prashant Raut alleged that Tawde was hiding in the kitchen as party workers entered the hotel. The party also claimed that the hotel had shut down CCTV recordings.

The BVA, led by Vasai MLA Hitendra Thakur, has a strong presence in Palghar district. It has three MLAs in the Assembly. While Hitendra Thakur is contesting from Vasai, his son Kshitij has been fielded from Nalasopara.
Hitendra Thakur has also alleged that they recovered two diaries from the bag. The BVA leader told a local Marathi channel that Tawde apologised and requested his help to get out of the hotel.
However, Tawde claimed that he was in Nalasopara to provide guidance regarding election procedures and not to distribute money.
Issuing an explanation after he was accused of distributing cash for votes ahead of the elections, Tawde clarified that he met Rajan Naik for a small meeting before BVA workers showed up at the hotel. He said the BVA workers started creating a ruckus and accused him of distributing money to influence voters.
Tawde further said he called Hitendra Thakur asking him to restrain his party workers, adding that he left the hotel with him and his son Kshitij.
He asserted that he was having a small tea party with the BJP workers to discuss the things they needed to take care of on polling day, explaining that the entire episode was captured on CCTV.
Tawde has called for an impartial investigation by the Election Commission into the matter to prove his innocence after the incident drew a sharp response from opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule.
The Maharashtra BJP leader said an impartial probe into the accusations levelled against him was needed to ascertain the sequence of events and prove his innocence.
After a ruckus of over three hours, the two parties decided to hold a joint press conference at the hotel. However, as the press conference started, it was stopped by Election Commission officials stating that it was illegal since the ‘silence period’ was in place on Tuesday. A separate FIR has also been lodged in the matter.
The police have sealed the hotel amid protests by the BVA workers demanding Tawde’s immediate arrest. Police said three FIRs have been filed so far, including two against Tawde and BJP candidate Rajan Naik.
“The BJP and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi workers were present on different floors. Some amount of money and a few diaries have been recovered from here. Two FIRs have been registered, and a third FIR is also being lodged for holding a press conference illegally,” Pournima Chougule, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-II, Vasai, told ANI.
Nalasopara Assembly election officer Shekhar Ghadge also admitted to cash being seized in the hotel. “A search is underway. This will not have any impact on the election,” Ghadge said.
The Congress slammed the BJP, saying that its leaders were “busy influencing the elections using money”. It urged the Election Commission to take note of the incident and take strict action.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi used the incident to take a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
“ek hain toh safe hain (if we are one, we are safe)” slogan. “Modi ji, from whose SAFE did these Rs 5 crore come? Who looted the public’s money and sent you in the tempo?” Gandhi tweeted.
The “tempo” reference was to PM Modi’s allegation that the Congress received “cash loaded in tempos” from “Adani and Ambani”.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owasi asked if this was “vote jihad or dharma yudh” — terms that have been frequently used by BJP leaders in Maharashtra in the run-up to the polls.
Commenting on the incident, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said the “corrupt and terror-spreading” BJP-led ruling alliance in the state should be removed.
Tuesday’s development also comes in the wake of an increasing number of incidents where bags belonging to a number of political leaders were checked across Maharashtra after Thackeray stoked controversy following a routine inspection of his luggage by election officials.