The Kanpur administration on Monday filed a case against Rahul Gandhi for alleged moral code of conduct violation by stretching beyond the allocated time and area during his road show in Kanpur.

Earlier, Kanpur's district administration claimed that Gandhi had violated the election code by stretching beyond the allocated time and area.

"The district administration had allocated time till noon and fixed a 20-km. route for Rahul Gandhi's road show. This was done as today is Shivratri and there could be a traffic problem," District Magistrate Hari Om said.

"But this roadshow completely violated the election code of conduct as it started at 10.30 a.m. continued till 3 p.m. It did not stick to the prescribed route and instead covered a stretch of 38 km. Therefore, the organizers of the road show will be booked for violating the election code," the DM said.

In Muslim-dominated Chunnigang area, people welcomed Gandhi by showering flowers while the Congress leader garlanded an Ambedkar statue in Bajaria area. However, his roadshow was also shown black flags by youths belonging to some Muslim groups in Baghai area. They were shouting slogans such as “Rahul, go back.”

State Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who was part of the roadshow, denied there was any violation of the model code of conduct and accused the district administration of trying to stop Rahul's mass contact program at the behest of the Mayawati government.

"The party has apprised the Election Commission about the action of the district administration," she said.

Kanpur goes to polls in the fifth phase on February 23.