Punjab Elections 2022: Malerkotla candidate booked for hiding information about proclaimed offender status
Chandigarh (Punjab), February 12: Just days ahead of crucial assembly elections in Punjab, independent candidate Mohammad Shakeel contesting in upcoming polls has been booked for concealing information about being a proclaimed offender while filing nomination papers.
Mohammad Shakeel contesting the Punjab Assembly elections from Malerkotla constituency has been booked under section 193/199 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 125A Representation of People Act, at Police Station City-1 Malerkotla.
"Shakeel was declared PO on December 13, 2019. He was also arrested in that case. During a probe by Returning Officer, it has been found that Mohammad Shakeel son of Mohammad Ruldu did not disclose about his PO status," said S Karuna Raju, Chief Electoral Officer Punjab.
The CEO said that under sections 193 and 199 of the Indian Penal Code there is a provision of punishment of three to seven years along with a penalty.
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Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Sanaur Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra has also been booked for hiding information about a criminal case against him.
A case has been registered against Sanaur AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra under various Sections of the Representation of People Act, 1951, at Julka police station at Sanaur, Punjab. A complaint in this regard was lodged by Jasleen Kaur Bhullar, Returning Officer, Sanaur Assembly constituency.
"An FIR has been filed on Thursday against Pathanmajra after receiving a complaint that he was declared Proclaimed Offender (PO) on July 2, 2019, by a court of Barnala. He, however, furnished false information in Form 26A (Affidavit) while filing the nomination," informed Raju.
Raju further said that under Section 125A of the Representation Act, 1950, a violator may get imprisonment up to three months or penalty or both.
Punjab is set to go to the polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10.
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-PTC News
