Rajkot bypoll: Suspected Cong worker booked for 'defaming' BJP

Police today registered a case against three persons, including a suspected Congress worker, for allegedly printing and distributing pamphlets to defame BJP nominee Vijay Rupani who is contesting bye-election to Rajkot (West) Assembly seat, scheduled on October 15.
"I came to know that some pamphlets using derogatory language to defame our party (BJP) and candidate Vijay Rupani were recently distributed by alleged Congress worker Tushar Nandani and two others," BJP city unit president Bheekha bhai Vasoya said today.
He alleged that Nandani and two others hatched a conspiracy to defame BJP and Rupani by distributing the pamphlets in a bid to drive a wedge between two communities and thus breached the model code of conduct.

"I informed police about the pamphlets which are in circulation, following which a case was registered against Nandani and others," Vasoya said.
When contacted, ACP (crime) H K Patel said that Nandani and two unidentified persons have been booked under various sections of IPC and investigation is on to nab them.
Rupani is in the fray against Jayantibhai Kalariya of the Congress.

The Rajkot seat fell vacant after sitting MLA and Speaker of Gujarat Assembly Vajubhai Vala, who had retained the seat since 1990, resigned after being appointed Governor of Karnataka.
The bypoll has become a prestige issue for both the parties.

Two days back, Congress party's flags, banners and materials related to the bypoll, were found burnt by some unidentified people in a party office located at Akshar Nagar in Gandhigram area.
Congress has alleged that BJP leader Rupani's supporters were behind the incident. The BJP has already denied the charge.