Journalism of Courage
The Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) has given a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the alleged violation of poll code on April 30 when the Lok Sabha election was held in the city. An FIR had been filed against Modi for taking a selfie with his party’s symbol in hand and for addressing the media outside the polling centre.
This was the first FIR ever filed against Modi following instructions from the Election Commission. The DCB officials submitted the 100-page closure report before a metropolitan court, stating that no offence was made out against the PM. There were several journalists from electronic media whose statements were also recorded. “We have filed the report today in the court,” said Himanshu Shukla, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCB, while refusing to divulge further information.
DCB had registered an FIR against Modi and some journalists, as directed by the EC, under Section 126 (1) (a) and 126 (1) (b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
The poll panel said it was “of the view that by holding that meeting, when the polling is going on in the entire state of Gujarat and in different parts of the country, Modi has violated the provisions of Sections 126 (1) (a) and 126 (l) (b) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951”.
