Bhopal, October 27: A press conference by the Bharatiya Janata Party in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh landed in a soup on Saturday after the police resgistered an FIR against the organisers for allegedly violating the model code of conduct. The press conference was held by BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on the roadside in front of a commercial building in Bhopal's MP Nagar area where he targeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi on the National Herald case.

The Election Commission ordered concerned authorities to file a complaint with police against organisers of Patra’s press conference. Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer VL Kanta Rao told news agency PTI that the organisers violated the terms and conditions on which permission was granted to them. Following the EC's direction, the SDM complained against BJP's SS Uppal and others over violation of model code of conduct.

“A directive has been issued for lodging a complaint against the organisers of the press conference of BJP spokesperson (Sambit) Patra at noon in MP Nagar locality,” Rao was quoted as saying. MP Nagar Police Station SHO confirmed that an FIR was registered against the organisers of the press conference. The EC’s action came after Madhya Pradesh Congress lodged a complaint with it.

Earlier in the day, Patra accused the Gandhi family of “looting” the country and claimed that a firm associated with them had acquired the commercial building (in front of which the press conference was held) at a “throw-away” price to print the National Herald. All the accused in the case, who are on bail, have denied the allegations. The case is going on before a metropolitan magistrate in Delhi.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2018 11:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).