After Uddhav’s ‘targeted scrutiny’ remark, EC clarifies helicopter checks follow SOP; says Amit Shah, Nadda were also inspected

The Sena (UBT) had, on Monday, posted a video on social media platform X, showing Uddhav talking to poll officials who checked his bag after the helicopter he was travelling in landed in Yavatmal district. Uddhav could be heard confronting the officials about the alleged “targeted scrutiny”. On Tuesday, Thackeray’s son, Aaditya Thackeray, shared another video on X of his bags being checked in Latur.

“While the Entirely Compromised commission shamelessly carries on trying to delay Uddhav Thackeray ji to his sabhas by frisking, the question is, why isn’t the PM or other ministers visiting Maharashtra to promote bjp’s loot being frisked this way? What a disgrace it’s turning out to be- this institution,” Aaditya Thackeray posted.

When asked about the incident, EC sources said the checking of helicopters and the luggage was carried out by enforcement agencies as per the SOP set by the poll body in the interest of maintaining a level-playing field.

The EC’s SOP mandates that bags on chartered flights during elections are screened by Central Industrial Security Force or police personnel “without any relaxation”.

A source said a similar issue came up during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, following which the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar had issued a clarification. In a post on X on May 12, the CEO of Bihar had said that the checking was done as per the SOP. The post also stated that BJP president JP Nadda’s helicopter was checked on April 24 in Bhagalpur and Home Minister Amit Shah’s chopper was checked on April 21 in Katihar.

While announcing the ongoing Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly election schedule last month, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had said that enforcement agencies had been asked to ensure checking of helicopters of all leaders for a level-playing field.