BJP general secy Vinod Tawde accused of distributing cash, police file 2 FIRs in Maha

In a dramatic turn of events that unfolded at Virar (east), ruling BJP's national general secretary Vinod Tawde was caught in a controversy when he was allegedly discovered with cash at a hotel on Tuesday, more than 17 hours after the Maharashtra Assembly election campaigning concluded.

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Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) party supporters stormed the hotel and flung cash at Tawde's face. Police arrived at the scene and escorted Tawde away.

The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi accused Tawde of distributing Rs 5 crore to woo voters on the eve of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The BJP denied the claim, saying he was only providing guidance to party workers on poll procedures.

Videos of the "cash distribution", many of them shot by BVA members who barged into the hotel hall where Tawde was present, went viral, after which police registered two first information reports about the alleged cash distribution.

Continued from Page 1 B VA leader Hitendra Thakur said his party supporters found Tawde with the cash at a hotel in Virar, 60 km from Mumbai, a day after election campaigning ended.

"I was informed by a BJP leader that he (Tawde) has come to distribute this huge cash. I could not believe that such a key national functionary of that party will do so, but sadly it turned out to be true," Thakur told a Marathi news channel. The incident took place a day before polling in Nallasopara Assembly constituency, where BVA MLA and Thakur's son Kshitij is pitted against BJP's Rajan Naik.

Hitendra Thakur said BVA members received information about Tawde conducting a meeting at the hotel in Manvelpada area, where Naik and local BJP leaders were present.