Vanathi Srinivasan booked for canvassing in temple

COIMBATORE: Police have registered a case against BJP candidate for Coimbatore south constituency Vanathi Srinivasan for canvassing votes at Iyyappan temple at Siddhapudur on Thursday in violation of the election code of conduct.
She has been booked under three counts of the IPC including Section 188 which holds the charge of disobedience to an order by a government servant and sec 171 (f) for exercising "undue influence'' over voters.Denying the charges, Vanathi Srinivasan said she would face the case legally.
According to K Rukumani, the flying squad member who lodged the complaint, Vanathi had distributed pamphlets to devotees at Iyappan temple at Sidhaputhur on Thursday. "In the first two paragraphs she had wished them for Tamil New Year. The third paragraph seeks the public to vote for BJP in the upcoming elections. This shows that she has canvassed votes inside the temple,'' said the complaint. The election commission of India has prohibited mosques, churches, temples and other places of worship to be used as forum for propaganda. Along with her complaint Rukumani ha also submitted photographs of Vanathi inside the temple wearing a shawl with BJP symbol.
Her temple visit was part of the programme titled "Worship with Vanathi'', under which she had planned to visit many more temples. However, Vanathi has strongly denied the charges and said she never canvassed votes inside the temple.
Police have also registered a case against an AIADMK man for giving away Rs 10 each to employees of shops. AIADMK functionary S Abbas, 71, from Podanur was booked by Race Course police under section 188 IPC for distributing cash to people in front of a hotel on Government Arts College Road on Thursday. He is the joint secretary of the city minority wing of the party.