Minors in a poll campaign: Names of Amit Shah, Kishan Reddy dropped from FIR in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The city police have dropped the names of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy from an FIR they filed on a complaint relating to allegedly using minors in a poll campaign here last month.

In a complaint to the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), TPCC vice-president G Niranjan alleged that on May 1 during a BJP rally from Laldawaza to Sudha Talkies, a few minor children were on the dais with Shah.

The CEO forwarded it to the city police for a factual report, resulting in the registration of an FIR against Shah, Reddy, BJP candidate for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat K Madhavi Latha, Legislator T Raja Singh and BJP leader T Yaman Singh.

However, after due inquiry, it was found that Amit Shah and Kishan Reddy had no role in the incident, a police official said.

A charge sheet was filed in a local court last week, the official further said.

"The involvement of others 1) Amit Shah, Hon'ble Union Home Minister, 2) Kishan Reddy, Hon'ble Union Minister is not established. Hence, deleted from this case and filing charge sheet," a notice to the complainant from the police said.

The case against the three others will continue under Section 188 of IPC (violation of an order issued by a public servant), the official added.

Niranjan urges ECI to check ‘lapses’ in Hyderabad police probe

Senior Congress leader G Niranjan urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to investigate the alleged lapses in police investigation into complaints that BJP leaders used children in an election campaign, which amounts to poll violations.

“Despite the ECI issuing directions to parties on February 5 not to use children in any election campaign, including rallies, slogan shouting, distribution of posters or pamphlets or any other election-related activity, children were present in the BJP rally and on the dais in which Amit Shah participated. One of the children was seen carrying the BJP symbol and giving slogans,” the TPCC vice president and chairman of the Election Commission Coordination Committee said in the letter.

Giving the details of the case, the Congress leader said that the rally took place on May 1 from Lal Darwaza to Sudha Talkies Bela in Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency.

“A complaint was made to ECI and the CEO in this regard with photo clipping of the dais. The CEO directed the DEO of Hyderabad to enquiry into the facts and to send a detailed report immediately,” he said.