Leh journalists claim BJP tried to bribe them with money

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 4

Mediapersons in Leh district of the Ladakh division have lodged a formal complaint with the police against the state BJP president and another senior leader of the party for allegedly “trying to bribe them for influencing the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections” in the region.

The complaint was lodged at the Leh police station on May 3, a day after state BJP president Ravinder Raina and MLC Vikram Randhawa organised a media interaction in Leh town.

“We have received a complaint from Press Club, Leh, and we are conducting an inquiry into the case. If prima facie, a case is established, we will take action,” said Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Avny Lavasa, who is the Returning Officer of the Ladakh parliamentary seat.

In the complaint, Leh mediapersons have alleged that the state BJP president and party MLC Vikram Randhawa tried to bribe them by offering them money in envelopes “as an attempt to use their platform to influence the outcome of the elections”.

They have claimed that they rejected the offer and condemned the act of the BJP leaders. They have requested registration of a case against the BJP leaders for violating the model code of conduct by trying to bribe mediapersons.