Parvesh Verma In Trouble Over 'Shoe Distribution' Video, EC Official Directs Delhi Police To Register FIR
The officer has written a letter to the Mandir Marg Police Station to register an FIR after videos surfaced showing the BJP leader distributing shoes to voters.
The returning officer has directed Delhi Police to register an FIR against Bharatiya Janata Party's New Delhi candidate Parvesh Verma for violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The officer has written a letter to the Mandir Marg Police Station to register an FIR after videos surfaced showing the BJP leader distributing shoes to voters.
The returning officer's order said that advocate Rajnish Bhaskar filed a complaint through WhatsApp, alleging that Parvesh Verma, the BJP candidate for the New Delhi seat, was distributing shoes to electors at the Valmiki Temple near the Mandir Marg Police Station. The complainant also submitted two videos purportedly showing Verma distributing shoes to women.
"I am to state that Dr. Rajnish Bhaskar, Adv. has made a complaint on WhatsApp stating that Shri Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma, prospective BJP candidate, is distributing shoes to electors of New Delhi Assembly Constituency in the religious campus of Valmiki Temple near Mandir Marg, Police Station. The complainant has forwarded two videos wherein Shri Pravesh Sahib Singh Verma is seen distributing shoes to women," the letter of the Returning Officer addressed to the Station House Officer, Mandir Marg Police Station stated.
#DelhiElection2025 | Returning Officer of New Delhi Assembly Constituency writes to SHO Mandir Marg Police Station requesting to lodge an FIR and to initiate an immediate investigation on the complaint against BJP candidate Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma. The complaint reads -… pic.twitter.com/Afu3dqYFbu
— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2025
The EC letter said that as per the Section 123 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 (1) (A), any gift, offer, or promise by a candidate or his agent to any person, comes under Corrupt Practices.
"It is therefore, directed that immediate investigation into the matter may be conducted and appropriate action for violation of MCC and action under Section 123 of RP Act, 1951 may be initiated and action taken report to be submitted to undersigned at the earliest," the letter added.
Pravesh Verma is the BJP's candidate who is fighting against Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and Congress's Sandeep Dikshit on the New Delhi Assembly seat.
Responding to the allegations, Verma, in a statement said that he personally honoured sanitation workers at the Valmiki Mandir by placing shoes on their feet as a mark of respect for their hard work in keeping the city clean. "No shoes were distributed. Only a few shoes were offered as a mark of respect towards the sanitation workers," claimed an aide of the BJP leader.