Shashi Tharoor booked for false campaign against Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha candidate Shashi Tharoor has been booked for allegedly running a misleading campaign against Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The Cyber Police officially registered the case on April 15, but its details were revealed only on Sunday. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader JR Padmakumar brought forward the accusations, claiming that Tharoor disseminated false information about Chandrasekhar during a televised discussion.
Details of the accusations against Tharoor unveiled
Padmakumar alleged that Tharoor made slanderous comments about Chandrasekhar, specifically suggesting he was manipulating voters in coastal regions ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The case was filed under Sections 171-G and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 65 of IT Act. IPC 171-G deals with making false statements related to an election, while IPC 500 pertains to defamation.
Investigation underway, Tharoor yet to respond
A representative from the Cyber Police confirmed that an investigation into these allegations against Tharoor is currently underway. Tharoor, who is contesting from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, has yet to comment on the case. On April 10, Chandrasekhar, the BJP candidate for Thiruvananthapuram, also issued a legal notice to the Congress leader, accusing the latter of defamation. The misinformation reportedly includes claims that Chandrasekhar bribed key voters and influential figures, such as parish priests, to win the upcoming polls.
Chandrasekhar demands retraction and public apology
The notice was issued over claims Tharoor made on 24 News that Chandrasekhar sent money to influential voters in the constituency. In the notice, Chandrasekhar expressed his dismay at the allegations and demanded a retraction of these statements. "Not only are the..statements...completely false but it is clear that the same was made with the clear mala fide intent to tarnish the reputation of our client to try and gain an unfair advantage in the upcoming elections," the notice read.
