National desk
19 November
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police have registered a case against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Vinod Tawde and party candidate Rajan Naik. The duo is accused of distributing cash to voters at a hotel in Virar, just hours before the Maharashtra assembly elections.
Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leader Hitendra Thakur alleged that Tawde distributed ₹5 crore to influence voters. In a viral video, BVA supporters confronted Tawde in a hotel room and threw currency notes at him. Following the incident, the police escorted Tawde from the hotel.
Tawde denied the allegations, stating he was merely giving instructions to party workers about the election process. However, based on a complaint from the Election Commission, the MBVV police filed an FIR against Tawde and Naik. Rajan Naik is the BJP candidate contesting from the Nalasupara seat.
The incident caused a three-hour commotion at the hotel, leading to a heated confrontation. Later, a press conference involving BVA leader Hitendra Thakur, his son Kshitij, Tawde, and Naik was abruptly halted by election officials. Investigations into the case are ongoing.