Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh's son Jayant Chowdhary, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader, was on Monday issued a notice by Election Commission for allegedly violating the model code of conduct after he was caught on camera taking cash from a local leader during a poll meeting in Mathura.
"We have sent a notice to Chowdhury seeking his explanation. He was caught on camera accepting money at Govardhan Assembly constituency in Mogarra area here," said ADM (City) Ram Awatar Raman.
Chowdhury was on Sunday caught on camera while he was accepting money, believed to be around Rs 70,000, during the election meeting.
On his part, Chowdhary saw nothing wrong in accepting money. "It is not a violation in any way. Please read the election code of conduct. Candidates are entitled to raise money from the constituency, from the constituents to fight election," he said.
He added that candidates can take money from people for running elections and if they do not then only industrial houses fund campaigns.
The cameras showed Chowdhary subsequently handing over the cash to his party candidate and later to his brother-in-law, who was accompanying him on the campaign trail.
In his election speeches Chowdhary is said to have told constituents that if they vote for him they would be voting for the future chief minister of the state. His campaign in charge, however, denied that he was projecting himself as the next CM. "What can you do if the supporters of Jayant Chowdhury want to project him as the future chief minister," a senior official of Ajit Singh's office told rediff.com.
The assembly constituencies that fall under Mathura will go to vote on February 28.
Chowdhury, sitting MP from Mathura, is also contesting assembly polls from Maant seat.
With inputs from PTI
