Shimla, July 28,
In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into alleged cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections, police have confiscated three mobile phones belonging to former Congress MLA Ravi Thakur. Thakur, who allegedly voted in favor of BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan, appeared at the Boilueganj police station to join the investigation after receiving interim bail from the High Court.
Reportedly, during the four-hour interrogation, police questioned Thakur extensively about his communications during his stays in Panchkula and Uttarakhand, where he used the three confiscated phones. Thakur handed over the phones and was also asked about the payment of his hotel bills during these stays. However, Thakur maintained that questions regarding his voting motivations should be addressed during court cross-examinations rather than by the police.
Despite allegations that Thakur received ₹15 crore in exchange for his vote, he claimed the police did not question him about these accusations. So far, the police have not found concrete evidence to support the bribery claims, presenting a significant challenge to the ongoing investigation.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is conducting a comprehensive probe into the FIR lodged by Congress MLAs Sanjay Awasthi and Bhubaneswar Gaur. The investigation involves scrutinizing the activities of six Congress MLAs and three Independent MLAs suspected of cross-voting. The SIT is also examining payments for five-star accommodations and air travel between Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttarakhand, which were allegedly covered by private individuals. The police have obtained bills and transaction details related to these expenses.
Additionally, the investigation extends to Ashish Sharma and, Rakesh Sharma, who face charges of undue influence on elections, bribery, and criminal conspiracy. This case includes the scrutiny of a private secretary of Haryana’s Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and four former Congress MLAs, all of whom have been issued presence warrants to assist in the probe.
As the investigation continues, these public representatives remain under intense scrutiny to uphold accountability and transparency.
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