Representational image  |  Photo Credit: PTI
Varanasi: Congress candidate Ajay Rai was on Saturday slapped with the charge of sedition over his alleged hate speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Rai, who is contesting the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh from the Pindra, has also been booked for flouting the model code of conduct and COVID-19 guidelines during an “unauthorised” election campaign at Rajetara village in Varanasi.
The FIR was registered against him at the Phoolpur police station on Saturday evening following a report by the local returning officer of the Assembly area.
The former MLA has been booked under IPC section 124A (sedition), besides sections 269 (unlawfully or negligently spreading infection of any disease dangerous to life), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between groups on ground of religion, class etc) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).
“Multiple complaints were received regarding the episode which was also shared live by Ajay Rai on his Facebook page and cognisance of the matter taken. A four-member team was formed and all due procedures followed after which he was found guilty,” Varanasi Deputy Collector and Pindra Returning Officer Rajeev Rai told PTI.
“Rai has been found holding the campaign without permission, in violation of the guidelines for coronavirus and also violating the model code of conduct. During the campaign, he also used objectionable language against the prime minister and the chief minister,” the returning officer said.
Pindra, which falls in PM Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi, will hold polls on March 7 in the last phase of the Assembly elections in the state. The counting of votes will be done on March 10.