PALANPUR: BJP candidate from Danta in Banaskantha Ladhu Parghi was on Tuesday booked for corrupt practices under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, for his alleged poll promise to allow open sale of liquor in his constituency if he was elected.
Parghi was also booked under section 171B (bribery) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on a complaint filed by Danta assistant returning officer Harsha Raval.
According to Raval's complaint, Parghi during his election campaign in Kanbiyavas on November 26 promised to get permission for open sale of liquor, against the state's prohibition policy.
The controversial video that went viral shows Parghi enticing voters saying, "Women can sell liquor out in the open."
"Women need not hide while selling liquor. They can sell it openly in a basket," Parghi is heard saying in the video.
"Vote for me and liquor would be easily available without the need for secrecy," he told his eager audience to thunderous applause.
Interestingly, apart from selling liquor, even consumption of liquor is a crime under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and those who suffer from the fallout of spurious liquor too can face serious charges. The penalty under the prohibition Act violation prescribes jail term of up to 10 years and even death penalty if a victim dies of spurious liquor consumption.
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