Pune: Election Commission Initiates Case Against PDCCB Bank in Baramati Voter Bribery Scandal

Baramati, 8th May 2024: NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader and Karjat-Jamkhed MLA Rohit Pawar levelled serious allegations against NCP (Ajit Pawar), accusing them of bribing voters. He didn’t just make claims; he also shared a video on his social media accounts as evidence. He said the bribes were distributed through the Pune District Central Co-Operative Bank Ltd. (PDCCB). He complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Following his complaint, the ECI initiated a case against the PDCCB Bank for violating the model code of conduct during the Lok Sabha elections.

In the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, voting took place yesterday in the Baramati Constituency. The Bhor Vidhan Sabha constituency is a component of the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, and the Velhe taluka falls within the Bhor Vidhan Sabha constituency. On the eve of the elections, the PDCCB Velhe branch remained open until late at night. The opposition alleged that it was kept open to distribute bribes. MLA Rohit Pawar shared a video regarding this, in which five or six people were seen in the bank late at night.

After Rohit Pawar’s tweet, the political atmosphere in Baramati, as well as the entire state, got tensed. Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, responded by stating, “Rohit Pawar has good experience handling social media. He might have used an old video and lied, but if it’s true, there should be a thorough investigation into this matter.”

To keep the bank open until late at night, the flying squad of the ECI has taken action against the PDCCB. In the CCTV footage of the bank, it was observed that 4 to 5 people were suspiciously wandering around late at night inside the bank. Additionally, a case has been registered against the bank manager.