Coimbatore: DMK functionaries were booked for allegedly distributing gift coupons worth 8,000 to voters in Ram Nagar, in the city on Wednesday.Kattoor police in Coimbatore city confirmed that they have registered a case against DMK ward secretary Sethuraman and party cadres Ramamoorthy, Mejastic Chinnaraj, Kannammal, and two unidentified women.The action followed a formal complaint filed by D Raviraj, 58, a resident of Vivekananda Road in Ram Nagar.Police said the accused had conducted a door-to-door campaign in Vivekananda Nagar on April 9, during which they allegedly distributed gift coupons worth 8,000 to members of the public, to influence their voting preference.As the offence was classified as non-cognisable, Kattoor police sought legal opinion from the judicial magistrate. After obtaining permission from judicial magistrate II, they filed an FIR on Tuesday.A case was registered under section 173 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, read with section 127 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.Meanwhile, election officials warned that strict action would be taken against any party worker found distributing cash or other inducements.
