Police Registers Case Against AAP’s Gujarat Chief For Targeting PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’

Gujarat Police has registered case against the state Aam Aadmi Party's president Isudan Gadhvi for allegedly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio show, NDTV report said on Monday

Gadhvi allegedly had claimed through a tweet that the Centre has so far spent Rs 830 crore of the taxpayers' money on 100 episodes of PM’s radio programme, it said.

It said the case was registered on Saturday after it was found that Gadhvi made the claim without any relevant data to support it.

“While the tweet has been deleted by Gadhvi, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was harassing its leaders through such ‘false’ FIRs’,” it said.

Earlier, the 100th episode of PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address was broadcasted on Sunday.

On April 28, the report stated that Gadhvi in a tweet claimed: "One episode of Mann Ki Baat costs Rs 8.3 crore! Which means that the Centre has spent Rs 830 crore on 100 episodes so far. This is too much. BJP workers should register their protest, because mostly they listen to this programme." 

Taking cognisance of the tweet, the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch registered an FIR against Gadhvi on April 29 under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime, JM Yadav said at a press conference.

The case against Gadhvi was registered under various IPC sections including 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 500 (defamation), 505(1)(b)and(c) (publishing rumour or report with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public, or inciting people to commit an offence against the state or against public tranquility) and 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes), the report quoted the above official as having said.

"Police are the complainant on behalf of the government. The FIR was registered on April 29 at the Cyber Crime Branch after it was found that Gadhvi had tweeted against 'Mann Ki Baat' without any reliable data to back his claim. We will gather evidence and then proceed further. He has not been arrested yet," the above officer was quoted as having said.

On Sunday, the PIB Fact Check Twitter handle tagged a screenshot of Gadhvi's tweet and said the AAP leader's claim that Rs 830 crore was spent on 'Mann Ki Baat' was "misleading", it said.

"This Claim is Misleading. Rs 8.3 cr is the total figure of ads for Mann ki Baat till said date, not for a single episode. Tweet assumes each episode is supported by ads. Which is false," the PIB Fact Check tweeted.

AAP's national joint secretary and former Gujarat party chief Gopal Italia claimed the case against Gadhvi was registered on false charges, it mentioned.

"Gadhvi has been booked over a tweet. This shows how the BJP fears AAP. The BJP and its government have repeatedly lodged false FIRs against us to stop and break us. But, we will continue to fight," said the report quoted Italia as having said.

(With PTI inputs)