Govinda meets district collector over cash dole on Holi

Mumbai, March 21 (IANS) Actor-turned-politician Govinda Friday met Mumbai suburban district collector Vishwas Patil in connection with an ongoing probe into his having allegedly doled out cash to people during Holi festival.

"He had given his explanation in writing last Monday, which was not found satisfactory. Today, he made his points (clear). However, we are waiting for the inquiry report before we can decide in the matter," Patil told IANS.

Govinda submitted before the district administration that it was an old family tradition to give money to people during the festivals of Holi and Diwali.

Not convinced by the explanation, the collectorate wanted to know to whom he had given the money and whether it violated the Election Commission's model code of conduct.

Govinda told reporters outside the collector's office that Juhu area, where his resides, does not fall within the jurisdiction of the existing Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency.

The actor added that he had not yet decided whether he would contest the forthcoming elections or not, and therefore was not a candidate for the polls right now.

On March 11, Govinda was captured live on television handing over currency notes to some people from a large crowd gathered outside his home in Mumbai. The state chief electoral officer had suo moto ordered the collectorate to conduct an enquiry into the incident and submit its report.

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