UDUPI:The Election Commission has booked a case against Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Pramod Madhwaraj for violating the model code of conduct. The Udupi district minister had issued a statement promising government employment and Rs 25 lakh in cash by the state government to weight lifter, Gururaj Poojary of Kundapur taluk, for having won silver medal at Commonwealth Games 2018.
The officials believe that the minister is guilty of the offense as he issued the statement when the model code of conduct is in place. The media had carried the news that the minster had said that Poojary will be eligible for job and cash reward in terms of the sports policy recently adopted by the state government.
Speaking to TNIE on Sunday, Udupi DC Priyanka Mary Francis said that prima facie it was found that Pramod Madhwaraj was offering Group B post in a government office to achiever Gururaja attempted to induce the voters which is against the model code of conduct.
‘’In this case, it is a violation because Gururaja becomes the new beneficiary of a benefit stated in the government’s policy. I have gathered information from the Assistant Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Department that order that promises a government job and `25 lakh cash award to an achiever in the sports was passed through a new sports policy on March 14, but that order is not published in the Official Gazette yet. So in this case, it amounts to inducement to voters,’’ Priyanka Mary Francis clarified.A case is registered under section 123 (2) of RP Act, 171 (f) read with 171 (b) and (c) and 188 of IPC against the minister.