As reported in TOI by Sharad Vyas, on 10 October 2009
In the run up to the assembly polls, the BMC has, for the first time, filed FIRs against political parties for defying the election model Code of Conduct. Five FIRs were registered on Friday at Deonar and Shivaji Nagar police stations against Raj Thackeray’s MNS, the SP and the Congress for defacing public property.
Two FIRs against the MNS were registered-at Shivaji Nagar and Deonar. One FIR each was lodged against the SP at the same stations, and one FIR against the Congress was filed at Deonar. The action, carried out by the state-appointed quick response team of constituency 171 of Mankhurd, was based on a complaint filed by the local election observer. “We were informed about the incident in the afternoon. The parties had put up flags on electric poles; but by the time we reached there, we found the workers themselves cleaning yup the mess, said N Mhatre, head of the team. The team includes one police officer, a videographer, a representative of the returning officer and a vehicle for patrolling.
A police officer from Shivaji Nagar said: “If found guilty, we may even end up arresting individual candidates of these parties.”
While the MNS has fielded Appasaheb Wagare, Abu Azmi is contesting on an SP ticket and the Congress’s K Sayed Ahmed is also in the fray from the Mankhurd constituency.
Defacement of public property is an offence under the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, and can attract prosecution. The BMC can also take measures against the accused under Section 328 of the BMC Act. “The police will now prosecute them. If found guilty, they face imprisonment of up to three months,” said Mhatre.
