The Election Commission has found Tirupati MP Chinta Mohan violating the model code of conduct during his campaign for Tirupati bypoll. Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal on Monday told mediapersons that the MP campaigned in the TTD administrative office in violation of the code. Similarly, Telugu Desam candidate Ch Krishna Murthy was also found to have violated the code by campaigning in a church.
“We submitted the report to the Election Commission of India for taking further steps with regard to violation,” the Mr Bhanwar Lal said. The CEO, added that he was still waiting for the report from the district collector on the alleged violation of code by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy. The CEO warned the excise officials that they would be arrested if they failed to control the sale of liquor through belt shops. Mr Bhanwar Lal said one lakh litres of liquor were seized when they were put for unauthorised sale or distribution.
Mr Bhanwar Lal asked the collectors of Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur districts to inquire into allegations that the retailers closed their shops following ACB raids but continue to sell through belt shops. Mr Bhanwar Lal said the officials seized Rs seven crore so far and the I-T department had been looking into the genuineness of the cash being transported. While Rs 38 crore was seized in 2009 elections, Rs 3.5 crore in Kadapa bypolls and Rs 9.5 crore in the recent by polls that were held for seven Assembly constituencies.