BJP leader Vinod Tawde booked for distributing cash to woo voters hours before Maharashtra polls

Barely hours before Maharashtra goes into polling, workers of a regional party on Nov 19 gheraoed Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary and former minister Vinod Tawde at a hotel in Palghar district, raised anti-BJP slogans and accused him of distributing cash to influence voters.

While Tawde denied the allegations, the Election Commission has filed an FIR against him over cash-for-vote allegations after recovery of nearly ₹ 10 lakh cash and some incriminating documents from the Vivanta hotel, officials said.

A video that has gone viral purportedly shows Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) workers storming into the hotel in Palghar during a meeting between Tawde and Rajan Naik, the BJP candidate from the Nalasopara assembly segment.

The BVA workers alleged that Tawde was caught red-handed with ₹ 5 crore cash.

District collector and election officer Palghar Govind Bodke was quoted as saying the election department had received complaints from BVA activists that some BJP workers were distributing cash at a hotel in Virar.

“Acting on the complaints, the returning officer of Nalasopara and a police team, along with the joint police commissioner and two deputy police commissioners, searched the hotel and recovered ₹9.93 lakh cash and some incriminating documents,” Bodke said.

“A case has been registered for the alleged offenses, including possession of cash, violation of the model code of conduct, and holding illegal press conferences,” he added.

The video purportedly shows the workers of the BVA taking out bundles of cash from a bag, while Tawde indicates that it does not belong to him.

Voting in all 288 constituencies of the Maharashtra assembly will begin at 7 am on Nov 20 and will conclude at 6 pm.

The BVA workers claimed that they found envelopes with cash and diaries at the meeting venue.

Addressing reporters BVA leader Hitendra Thakur accused Tawde of distributing money to voters in a Nalasopara assembly constituency.

Thakur said, "Some BJP leaders informed me that BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde is coming to Virar to disburse Rs 5 crore to influence voters. I thought a national leader like him would not stoop to such a level. But I saw him here. I urge the Election Commission to take action against him and the BJP."

The BVA legislator alleged the hotel management, where the Tawde was staying had shut down the CCTV cameras.

"The hotel administration seems to be in connivance with Tawde and the BJP. They only activated their CCTV after we requested it. Tawde was distributing money to manipulate voters," he said.

BVA leader Prashant Raut alleged that Tawde was hiding in the kitchen as party workers entered the hotel. He also claimed that the hotel had shut down CCTV recordings.

The incident took place in the Nalasopara assembly constituency, where BVA MLA and Thakur's son, Kshitij, are locked in an electoral contest with BJP's Naik.

Meanwhile, Congress shared a video from the hotel and accused the BJP of trying to use money power to influence the election. "Even top leaders are involved. The Election Commission should take note and strict action," Congress said in a post on X.

Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by leader Sharad Pawar slammed the BJP over the dramatic episode.

"Demonetisation was introduced by them, then where does this amount of cash come from? I am surprised that a senior leader like Vinod Tawde was involved in this - if this is true," she said in a statement.

Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said Uddhav Thackeray's bags were checked multiple times but the "ones truly carrying the cash bags went unchecked".

"Today a lot of people stand exposed. Waiting to see what action will be taken on BJP and its General Secretary Vinod Tawde ji," she was quoted as saying.

The BJP has rejected the allegations and termed them "baseless" and a political stunt by the AVB on the eve of elections.

BJP said Tawde was at the hotel for a meeting with party workers to discuss poll preparations. “The Election Commission must investigate the matter and scan CCTV footage to get to the root of the matter. This is nothing but a gimmick," a BJP leader was quoted as saying.

Kiran Kulkarni, Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra was quoted as saying they have received a complaint in this connection and necessary action will be taken.

Maharashtra votes on Nov 20 in what is expected to be a very exciting electoral contest.

In the Lok Sabha election earlier this year, the Opposition bloc of Congress-Sena UBT-NCP (Sharad Pawar) scored big by winning 30 out of Maharashtra's 48 seats. The Mahayuti won 17 seats.