Surat: A political row has erupted in the city ahead of the announcement of civic body elections after posters targeting the BJP appeared across several areas, prompting police action. At least five FIRs have been registered at different police stations against 18 individuals in connection with the incident.

Complaints were filed by BJP office-bearers and workers at Puna, Pandesara, Dindoli, Katargam, and Utran police stations after the posters surfaced in various parts of the city. The posters against the ruling party were spotted at key locations, including traffic circles, streetlights, and garden walls in areas such as Pandesara, Dindoli, Katargam, and Puna, with party workers alleging the involvement of Aam Aadmi Party workers.

Police have invoked Section 336(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, related to forgery intended to harm reputation, along with Section 54 of the BNS and provisions under Sections 3 and 12 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, which mandate disclosure of the printer and publisher on printed material.

The complaints were lodged by BJP members Dharmendra Kakadiya, Sharad Patil, Shyamlal Yadav, Jagdish Gohil, and Sanjay Raghwani at the respective police stations.

According to the complaints, the posters carried allegations against the BJP on issues such as corruption, rising education costs, inflation, drug and liquor menace, and traffic congestion. The posters also claimed public dissatisfaction with the party’s rule and featured a cross mark over the lotus, the BJP’s election symbol.

The complainants alleged that the posters violated legal norms as they did not mention the printer or publisher.

Following the FIRs, workers of the Aam Aadmi Party staged protests outside the Varachha and Katargam police stations. Party leaders alleged that their workers were being falsely implicated. City president Dharmesh Bhanderi said that while posters had appeared at various locations in recent days, AAP workers had no role in putting them up and were being harassed by the police.

Based on these allegations, Surat police registered five FIRs. In a joint statement, the offices of the Sector-1 and Sector-2 Additional Police Commissioners said that during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, Kirit Pansuriya, Devsi Dhebariya, Chirag Navadiya, Vishal Chavda, and 14 others allegedly put up the posters across the city.

“The posters did not carry the printer’s details, and a cross mark was placed on the symbol of a political party. The accused allegedly attempted to damage the party’s reputation through such forged material,” the statement said. DeshGujarat