Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has received a clean chit in a case of violation of the model code of conduct that was reported to the district election office.
An oral complaint was made by a Congress spokesperson to the district election officer claiming that Fadnavis was using his official residence Varsha to conduct political meetings even after the code of conduct came into action on March 10th which lays down that government residences cannot be used for political purposes.
Shivaji Jondhale, Mumbai city collector and election officer, said, "We conducted an investigation into the complaint, but we did not find any substantial proof. We were informed that the CM meets a lot of visitors at this residence every day, but that does not amount to any violation."
Furthermore, an official from the election department said that even if such a meeting took place, it is very difficult to prove the same as there are no records.
However, on the same lines, the election office lodged an FIR against NCP leader Dhananjay Munde after his official bungalow was used to release the party manifesto by party leader Nawab Malik. Munde is the leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
This time, Jondhale said, "We found that the event was pre-planned and also a message circulated to the media persons mentioned the venue as Munde's bungalow-B4."
He then added that after investigating, the police will decide which sections to apply in the case.
They will also be probing a complaint against Congress's Mumbai South candidate Milind Deora as a few days ago, while campaigning, he reportedly made some statement seeking votes on the basis of religion.