Kerala assembly polls: Case filed against IUML leader over promising foreign trip

Kozhikode: Tirur Police registered a case late on Saturday night against IUML state vice-president C P Bava Haji for allegedly offering a 15-day foreign trip to panchayat committee office-bearers who secure the highest lead for UDF candidate V S Joy in Thavanur constituency.Tirur Police registered the case under Section 173 of the BNS (bribery) and Section 123 (1) of the Representation of People's Act 1951 (any gift, offer or promise by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent of any gratification) based on the complaint filed by the returning officer of Thavanur assembly constituency. Sources said the Tirur sub-collector, who is also the returning officer, submitted a report to the police along with a video of Haji's speech. Since the offence is non-cognisable, the Tirur judicial first class magistrate court reviewed the matter on Saturday and directed the police to register the case and conduct an enquiry.Malappuram collector Vinay Goyal also asked the district police chief to examine whether Haji's speech, delivered at Mangalam on March 22, violated the model code of conduct and election laws, after its video went viral.Haji, a businessman with interests in Gulf countries, had reportedly offered to personally sponsor return air tickets to the UAE and a 15-day stay for select panchayat office-bearers. Thavanur constituency is currently witnessing a contest between incumbent Left-backed Independent MLA K T Jaleel and UDF candidate V S Joy.Meanwhile, many UDF leaders defended Bava Haji, saying that the speech did not amount to a violation of the poll code, arguing that it was aimed at motivating party workers rather than influencing voters.