Antagarh bypoll case: Manturam Pawar expelled from C'garh BJP

The Chhattisgarh BJP on Tuesday expelled Manturam Pawar, three days after he alleged that former chief minister Raman Singh among others were involved in fixing Antagarh Assembly bypoll held in 2014.

Pawar, the Congress candidate in bypoll, abruptly withdrew from the fray leading to the victory of the BJP's candidate Bhojraj Nag.

Pawar later joined the BJP in March 2015.

"Chhattisgarh BJP chief Vikram Usendi has expelled Manturam Pawar from the party for his involvement in anti- party activities," the BJP said in a statement.

On September 7, Pawar alleged that Raman Singh, former BJP minister Rajesh Munat, former CM Ajit Jogi and his son and former MLA Amit Jogi were involved in fixing that election.

In a statement recorded before a local court under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on Saturday, Pawar alleged he was offered inducements and pressurised to withdraw from the fray.

Pawar's statement to court claimed Singh, Ajit and Amit Jogi had worked out that he withdraw his nomination for a sum of Rs 7 crore, adding that the deal was set in Munat's bungalow.

Singh had refuted the allegations.

The Bhupesh Baghel government set up an SIT last year to probe the bypoll fixing, and an FIR was lodged in February this year against Ajit Jogi, his son Amit, Raman Singh's son- in-law Dr Puneet Gupta, Munat and Manturam Pawar.