Case against actor Prakash Raj  for violation of MCC

Team Udayavani, Mar 22, 2019, 4:45 AM IST

Bengaluru: A case has been registered against actor-turned-politician Prakash Raj for violating the model code of conduct (MCC) and canvassing for votes at a following a compliant public rally held at the Mahatma Gandhi Circle near M G Road on March 12. 

Acting on the complaint lodged by Murthy D, a flying squad official for the 163 Vidhana Sabha constituency, on March 19, the Cubbon Park police booked Prakash Raj and two organisers of the programme under various sections of the Representation of People’s Act and also under the Karnataka Police Act.

Murthy in his complaint has stated that Raj, who is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency as an Independent candidate had used the mike and began to canvass seeking votes while addressing the public rally, organised by one Praveen K and Abhilash C S under the banner Media and Freedom of Expression.

The flying squad officers reached the spot after few people forwarded a mobile recording of Raj speaking on the mike to them but by the time they reached the programme was over. A WhatsApp video footage of Raj speaking on the mike was handed over to police as evidence. Further, the complaint mentions that though permission had been sought  to conduct a non-political programme, Prakash Raj used it as a platform canvassing for the election which amounted to a violation of the model code of conduct