Gehlot camp MLAs' Lagaan screening & Yoga classes flouted Covid-norms, claims new plea

As Rajasthan political mess gets murkier, on Sunday, a new case has been filed in Court of Metropolitan Magistrate in Jaipur alleging that 104 MLAs of CM Ashok Gehlot's camp defied rms of COVID-19. As per news ncy ANI, petitioner advocate Om Prakash stated in plea that from July 13 onwards to date, a congregation of 300-500 people has been seen at Hotel Fairmont and chief minister's residence. Highlighting that this is a massive violation of lockdown and COVID-19 rms, petitioner has attached a list of 104 MLAs. Moreover, all officials responsible for implementing COVID-19 guidelines have also been made a party to case.

Citing reports wherein MLAs at Fairmont Hotel was seen watching Aamir Khan-starrer Lagaan, Mughal-e-Azam, were attending cooking classes, playing Ludo and or indoor games in a hall and performing Yoga in lawn, plea said that this was blatant disregard of social distancing rules.

Furrmore, it said that same situation was observed on June 19 when Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had assembled ruling coalition's MLAs at Hotel Shiv Vilas for Rajya Sabha polls. case has been filed under sections 188, 269, 270, 271 and 505 of CrPC read with section 51 of Disaster Manment Act 2005 along with Section 9 and 11 of Rajasthan Prohibition of Smoking Act and Section 120B of IPC. 

READ | Rajasthan MLAs from Gehlot camp watch 'Lagaan' at Fairmont Hotel; BJP takes jibe at Cong

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Police has formed special team for investigating leaked audiotapes, and Ministry of Home Affairs has demanded a report on alleged phone tapping in state from secretary.

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Rajasthan political crisis

A deadlock has reigned in state with Sachin Pilot's silence on his furr plans and after Congress sacked him from Deputy CM's post. Rajasthan High Court on Friday adjourned plea filed by Pilot and his MLAs against Speaker's disqualification tice to Monday at 10 AM. Moreover, Rajasthan Speaker has assured court that action will be taken against MLAs till 5:30 pm on Tuesday. 

On or side,  Rajasthan SOG produced an audio clip which allegedly features businessman Sanjay Jain talking to MLAs about money transactions in a sessions court in Jaipur. Ashok Singh and Bharat Malani have also been arrested.  SOG team visited hotels in Haryana and issued a tice to 19 rebel MLAs to collect evidence in form of voice samples. Meanwhile, BJP has denied allegations and demanded CBI inquiry into alleged phone tapping. Furrmore, Ministry of Home Affairs, on Saturday, sought a report from Rajasthan’s Chief Secretary over phone tapping issue in state, as per ANI sources.

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Additionally, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, on Saturday, called upon Goverr Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhavan. While Gehlot maintains that  45-minutes meeting was a courtesy visit, sources report that Gehlot has submitted a list of MLAs supporting his government - including Congress, BTP and Independent, after formally receiving support of 2 BTP MLAs.

political crisis in Rajasthan began after State's SOG issued tices to multiple MLAs including CM and Deputy CM in connection with alleged involvement of BJP leaders for toppling state government. Following incident, CM Ashok Gehlot accused BJP of attempting to topple his government amid COVID-19 crisis. A day later, on July 11, Deputy CM Sachin Pilot went to Delhi with some of his supporting legislators.

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