AP CID books case against Chandrababu Naidu, Lokesh for fake campaign on Land Titling Act

AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) booked a case against TDP chief Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh, and others for alleged fake campaign on Land Titling Act.

Following the order of the Election Commission of India, the CID has filed a criminal case against TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh, and other accused.

A case was registered at the CID Police Station in Mangalagiri under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The FIR and evidence, including a pendrive with audio files, were submitted.

The CID charged them with organising a fake campaign about the Land Titling Act. The CID responded to a complaint by the YSR Congress Party. The complaint was initiated by Malladi Vishnuvardan, MLA of Vijayawada Central Assembly, who reported that voters were receiving IVR calls with messages urging them not to vote for Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy and instead support Chandrababu Naidu. The messages claimed that the Land Titling Act would result in voters losing their wealth and land records.

The YSRCP alleged that TDP, with a malafide intention to portray Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy as a land grabber trying to falsify the information regarding the 'Land Titling Act,' proposed by the incumbent Government.

"The IVR calls were allegedly made by the TDP as part of their political campaign. The content of the calls was considered a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) because it spread false information and made personal attacks on political rivals" the complaint said.

The MCC guidelines prohibit the spread of unverified allegations and restrict criticism of policies, programs, and records. The complainant requested that the ECI take cognizance of the IVR calls, direct the TDP to stop the campaign and seek explanations from the telecom operators facilitating the campaign.