Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was given a clean chit in the incident of her playing with snakes during Lok Sabha polls’ electioneering, sources said in Rae Bareli on Wednesday.
A probe was ordered by Rae Bareli authorities on a complaint by Indian Animal Welfare board under the Prevention of Cruelty Protection Act.
On May 2, when Ms Vadra was campaigning for her mother Sonia Gandhi, she visited the snake charmers colony where she played with the serpents. The incident was widely reported in the media.
Though the probe gave the Congress leader a clean chit, two snake charmers whose ophidians she had played with, were booked. Now, the forest department has registered case against the two snake charmers and have sent it to the court.
Forest department SDO B M Shukla had probed the incident. It was alleged that Vadra had touched the snake and played with them.
The probe officer said that he could not find any evidence against the Congress leaders during his investigation. Both the snake charmers have been served notices but when no reply was received, a case has been lodged against them.
Surprisingly, the video of Vadra playing with the snakes was not given to the investigation officer.
(UNI)
