Election Commission today pulled up Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil for his "highly provocative" remarks made in poll-bound Karnataka and cautioned him not to "repeat such instances in future".
Stating that EC has seen the CD of Patil's speech in Belgaum on April 7, the order said that his statement "prima facie" violated the Model Code of Conduct and also constituted a violation of the Representation of People Act 1951.
The Commission also instructed Patil to bear the expenses of his visit to Belgaum, where he made the statement, if he had gone there for a personal trip.
"The Commission hereby conveys its displeasure to you over your impugned speech and cautions you to be careful and not repeat such instances in future," an EC order dated April 16 said.
An FIR has already been been filed against Patil by Karnataka Police on charge of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race or language for he speech on Belgaum issue, a bone of contention between the two states.
Patil was also booked under Representation of People Act for violation of the election code for the May 5 assembly poll in the state, police said here on Thursday.
The EC order has been sent to Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra with the instruction that it be delivered to Patil immediately.
"The Commission directs that, as you have stated that you had gone to Belgaum to attend a private function, you should bear the expenses of your said visit to Belgaum on your own account...," the order said.
According to the EC, the Maharashtra Home Minister had made the speech during a function organised to celebrate the birthday of an editor of a daily newspaper on April 7.
It also noted that Patil's statement violated the Indian Penal Code (IPC) amounting to corrupt practice and electoral offences in the electoral matters.
