BJP candidate Rana Sodhi and Congress candidate Parminder Singh Pinki were booked for poll violation 

Cases have been registered after both candidates of BJP and Congress entered polling booths in the Ferozepur Urban constituency during polling hours 

BJP candidate from the Ferozepur Urban constituency, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, was charged with two counts of poll violation, and his rival from the Congress fold, Parminder Singh Pinki, was charged with a single count of poll violation in his constituency. 

Both candidates were charged for violating Section 188 (causing disorder on purpose, thereby inciting the danger of a riot) and Section 171-F of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) as they entered a polling booth surrounded by guards during voting hours of the single phase of the Punjab Assembly Elections.  

The polling booth officer had made a report to the police regarding Sodhi’s entering a polling booth in the village of Jallo Kee armed with security guards while polling was going on.

Although both Sodhi and his Congress rival, Pinki, are denying the charges, it is to be noted that they are liable to be jailed for a year or pay a hefty fine, or both, if they are found guilty.  

On the eve of the Punjab elections, Sodhi was further booked for campaigning at Tarsem Singh’s house in Attari village.

This was a violation of the polling code of conduct. Sodhi’s supporter, Tarsem Singh, was also charged under Section 188 of the IPC.  

Senior correspondent of Ferozepur police, Narendra Bhargav, reported that both candidates ran afoul of the election poll of conduct according to surveillance teams and election observers.

The law is taking its course against the defaulters.  

On the other hand, charges were made against Anumeet Hira Sodhi, elder son of the BJP candidate Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, for holding a rally at the local Azad Chowk without police permission on February 11. Actor Mahie Gill was also present on the stage.

Both were booked under IPC Section 188. After a thorough investigation, the police have now declared the charges genuine. 

Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi’s younger son, Raghumeet Singh Sodhi, has also been charged with violating the model code of conduct for campaigning in a border village along with 15 supporters on the eve of Punjab elections.

They have been charged under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act besides being booked under Section 188 of the IPC.  

An aide of Congress candidate, Parminder Singh Pinki, called Sukhjinder Singh, has also been booked for violating the poll code of conduct.  

Vote counting for Punjab Assembly Elections is scheduled for March 10.  

Edited By : Atreyee Chakraborty

Published By : K. Bindhiya Prarthana