Bypoll fixing row: Former MLA refuses to give voice sample

Raipur: Senior tribal leader and former legislator Manthuram Pawar, who has been named in an FIR in the alleged fixing of Antagarh (ST) by-election in 2014, has refused to give his voice sample to the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case.
Questioning the legality of SIT, Pawar said he would consider giving his voice sample if there is a court order to that effect.
After reaching the SIT office following a notice issued to him, Pawar told TOI that HC had ordered that the SIT should not act in a manner which is prejudicial to anybody. He said FIRs in the Antagarh bypoll case and petitions challenging setting up of SIT are pending before the HC.
“I respect the verdict of HC but SIT has overlooked the order of the court. I have come here in response to the notice issued to me. But, I have refused to give any voice sample to SIT without my consent and without order of the court where the case is still pending,” Pawar added.
Mounting attack on Congress government, Manthuram alleged that the new government has lodged fresh FIR against him due to political vendetta.
Since last six months, Bhupesh Baghel government has only constituted SIT to frame people on bogus cases for political harassment, he added.
DSP cyber cell Abhishek Maheshwari told TOI that Manthuram Pawar did not give consent to give voice sample. Now, police will go to court to get permission for taking voice sample of Pawar, he added.
The SIT had also issued notices to Janata Congress founder Ajit Jogi, his son Amit Jogi to appear before it on June 25 for collecting voice sample. Notices have also been issued to Puneet Gupta, son-in-law of former chief minister Raman Singh, to provide his voice sample on June 27.
The SIT notice said that an FIR was registered in February this year regarding the Antagarh bypoll fixing case at Pandri police station following a complaint by Congress leader Kiranmayee Nayak.
Police is in possession of a pen drive with purported recording of telephonic conversations of the alleged accused and voice sampling needs to be done to verify the same.
The complaint was that Manthuram Pawar, who was nominated by the Congress to contest the Antagarh (ST) bypoll in 2014 withdrew his nomination papers at the last moment to allegedly enable the then ruling BJP’s candidate to win the elections. There have been allegations that Ajit Jogi, his son Amit, Puneet Gupta and others had conversations regarding exchange of money so that Manthuram Pawar could withdraw his nomination papers at the last moment.