Gorakhpur Bypoll Controversy: Controversial past of DM Rajeev Rautela, man who 'banned media' from covering counting

On Wednesday, 13th March the counting and results of Gorakhpur by-poll were announced, during the counting of the votes, the district magistrate of Gorakhpur Rajeev Rautela barred media personnel from giving updates of counting. When DM stopped media from reporting the trends the vote gap between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP candidate was narrowed.

Not only this, DM also banned reporters from entering the counting area despite having valid election commission passes. The media made protests and outrage were made by the opposition leaders after which the media got the entry to report the bypolls counting.

SP leader Naresh Uttam claims, that the DM is working in favor of BJP to make their candidate win the polls. According to report, it was for the first time that media was reportedly kept at a distance of 15 feet from the area, that was covered with curtains.

Post media ban, the state assembly was also adjourned for 10 min following the ruckus over the matter. However, DM Rautela is said to be close to the Uttar Pradesh's CM Yogi Adityanath.

DM Rautela has not landed into controversy for the first time, he holds a vast controversial past, Here are few of them:

Earlier in 2013, When Rautela was Aligarh's district magistrate, made a controversial comment over the compensation provided to the martyr's families. In September while he was addressing a group of journalists, Rautela said, India was a “land of mourners”. "5,000 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan, but their families never ask for compensation," he added.