MUMBAI: Less than 24 hours before polling in Maharashtra, BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde found himself caught in a big row with the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) of Hitendra Thakur accusing him of distributing cash to BJP activists and voters in a Virar hotel. While there was no direct evidence showing Tawde distributing money, BVA MLA Kshitij Thakur, who is contesting from Nalasopara constituency and who entered the restaurant in the hotel in which Tawde was seated with BJP activists, alleged they found a bag which had money in envelopes and a diary with names of those to whom money had been given. Videos that went viral showed Rs 500 notes being displayed by BVA workers who had surrounded a seated Tawde.
Tawde (61) said he had merely stopped at the hotel while returning from Wada in Palghar district. He denied knowledge of the cash, describing his visit as a friendly one where election preparedness was discussed. He said he was explaining poll protocol to workers and demanded a probe by the EC.
The opposition MVA demanded strict action against Tawde. BVA workers detained Tawde for over three hours before he was taken out by Hitendra and Kshitij Thakur themselves. Election officials later seized Rs 9,93,500 from a room on the fourth floor of the hotel.
Four FIRs were filed in the matter by the local Tulinj police under the Representation of Peoples Act, confirmed Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar commissioner Madhukar Pandey. The EC filed a case against Tawde and Hitendra Thakur fo.