Congress seeks transfer of poll code violation case against Narendra Modi outside Gujarat

Congress on Sunday claimed the Gujarat Police was trying to "hush up" the case registered against Narendra Modi for poll code violation and urged the Election Commission to transfer the case to an agency outside the state.

On April 30, an FIR was registered against Narendra Modi by the Gujarat police following an order of the Election Commission which held that he violated the electoral laws.

Citing reports quoting the state police sources which said no case was made out against Modi, KC Mittal, Secretary AICC legal department said the police is trying to "hush up" the case and its claims are "misconceived, misleading and untenable".

"The obvious conclusion is that no fair and honest investigation is being conducted or possible by local police who are under the total influence of Modi as he is the chief minister.

"In the circumstance, it is necessary that investigation be ordered to be transferred and conducted by an agency from outside Gujarat or by the Commission itself or by any other agency as may be considered appropriate," he said in a letter to the EC.

Mittal said the charge against Modi is backed up by evidence, arguing that the place and the manner of the "so-called address to media" was preplanned and fixed well in advance.

"It was not an interaction but a well prepared speech," he said.