EC orders police complaint over BJP press conference in MP

The Election Commission (EC) Friday evening directed concerned authorities to file a complaint with police against organisers of BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra's press conference here.

Patra Saturday held a press conference on the roadside in front of a commercial building in MP Nagar area here and targeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi on the National Herald case.

The opposition Congress had claimed that Patra's press conference was organised without requisite permissions and that too on public property (road).

"A directive has been issued for lodging a complaint against the organisers of the press conference of BJP spokesperson (Sambit) Patra at noon in MP Nagar locality," Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer VL Kanta Rao told PTI.

The organisers have violated the terms and conditions on which permission was granted to them, he added.

The EC's action came after Madhya Pradesh Congress lodged a complaint with it here.

"We lodged a complaint with the EC stating that the press conference was held blocking a road without permission and it is a violation of the code of conduct," MP Congress Election Affairs Wing in charge JP Dhanopia said.

Earlier in the day, Patra accused the Gandhi family of "looting" the country and claimed that a firm associated with them had acquired the commercial building (in front of which the press conference was held) at a "throw-away" price to print the National Herald.

All the accused in the case, who are on bail, have denied the allegations. The case is going on before a metropolitan magistrate in Delhi.