Report on Bengal BJP candidate's alleged money distribution submitted

Kolkata, March 15 (IANS) West Bengal's chief electoral officer Saturday received a report from the Birbhum district magistrate about the violation of model code of candidate by a BJP candidate, who is alleged to have distributed money during campaigning.

The report has been forwarded to the Election Commission in New Delhi for required steps, a senior official in the CEO's office said here.

Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and Bengali film actor Joy Banerjee found himself in the eye of a storm Friday after a television channel broadcast a footage claiming he was distributing money during his poll campaign. The candidate and his party denied the allegation.

The Trinamool Congress later filed a complaint with the Election Commission on the incident, seeking suitable action against Banerjee for breaching the model code.

Banerjee, who was campaigning as a candidate for the Birbhum Lok Sabha seat, was said to have handed out notes to two persons in Tarapith area of Birbhum.

However, Banerjee claimed he had given the money only to the needy and for offering a chadar on a Muslim shrine. "I have come to this shrine as an individual, and not a candidate."