Liquor baron gets nod to file papers

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, January 11

A local court today granted permission to liquor baron and former SAD Abohar halqa incharge Shiv Lal Doda, prime accused in the infamous Bhim Tank murder case, to file nomination papers for the Assembly elections on January 13.

The court has directed the authorities concerned to provide security during the time of filing the nomination papers.

Doda had filed an application before District and Sessions Judge, Fazilka, Lachhman Singh on January 4 seeking permission to file nomination papers. He had also demanded adequate security at the time of filing the papers.

Doda’s counsel pleaded that it was his fundamental right to contest the elections and he had not been convicted in the case. Doda will reportedly contest the elections as an Independent candidate.

Doda had already contested the 2012 Assembly polls from Abohar as an Independent and had secured 45,825 votes. He lost to Congress veteran Sunil Jakhar, who had secured 55,613 votes.

Recently, he was shifted to the Amritsar Central Jail after he was found running a “kangaroo court” on the jail premises.