Surat: A poster controversy erupted in the city days before the announcement of civic body elections after posters targeting the BJP surfaced in several parts of the city, leading to five FIRs in different police stations against at least 18 people.BJP office-bearers and workers lodged complaints at Puna, Pandesara, Dindoli, Katargam and Utran police stations after the posters appeared across different areas.Following the registration of FIRs, workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged protests outside Varachha and Katargam police stations.Police invoked Section 336(4) (forgery intended to harm someone’s reputation) and Section 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 3 and 12 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, which mandate disclosure of the printer and publisher on printed material.The complaints were filed by BJP members Dharmendra Kakadiya, Sharad Patil, Shyamlal Yadav, Jagdish Gohil and Sanjay Raghwani at Puna, Pandesara, Dindoli, Katargam and Utran police stations, respectively.According to the complaints, several posters were put up across the city carrying allegations against the BJP on issues such as corruption, costly education, inflation, drug and liquor menace, and traffic congestion. The posters claimed that people had grown frustrated with these issues during BJP rule. A cross (X) mark was also seen on the lotus, the BJP’s symbol.The complainants further alleged that the posters violated legal provisions as they did not carry the name of the printer or publisher.Based on these complaints, Surat police registered five FIRs. “During the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, Kirit Pansuriya, Devsi Dhebariya, Chirag Navadiya, Vishal Chavda and 14 other unidentified persons allegedly put up posters in different parts of the city. The posters did not bear the name of the printer, and a cross mark was made on the symbol of a political party. The accused allegedly attempted to harm the party’s reputation through forged posters,” a joint statement issued by the offices of the Sector-1 and Sector-2 additional police commissioners said.
