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 for holding a presser during the post-campaign silence period and another against Tawde for entering the constituency 48 hours before polling. A third FIR, against Tawde, BJP’s Nalasopara candidate Rajan Naik and three others, was over seizure of cash, and the fourth one was registered against Kshitij Thakur for allegedly assaulting hotel owner Sudesh Choudhary, who is a Shiv Sena functionary and former BVA corporator. Tawde was accompanied by Naik and Choudhary.
Police also issued a notice barring Tawde from entering the constituency until counting concludes on November 23.
Hitendra Thakur claimed BVA received a tip-off of Tawde arriving with Rs 5 crore cash from a BJP leader. Tawde accused him of “lying” that a BJP neta had tipped them off.
BVA members alleged the hotel’s main gate was closed and CCTV cameras initially switched off; they were only activated at their insistence, they alleged. Palghar district collector Govind Bodke said they have sought video footage.
Hitendra Thakur questioned Tawde’s presence in Virar. The situation, BVA activists said, intensified when women in saris were found seated on the staircase leading to the fourth floor, with faces covered when questioned about their presence. Thakur alleged Tawde requested his help via phone to escape the crowd. A press address by Thakur and Tawde after the drama ended as it was halted by poll officials, with Tawde eventually departing in Thakur’s vehicle.
Tawde later said in statement, “The entire sequence of events is captured on CCTV. I was only there to have tea with BJP workers and engage in discussions. The question of distributing money does not arise. CCTV footage related to this should be examined to clarify the situation. “