Ex-Mayor Sood bats for party nominee

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 16

Former Mayor Arun Sood today said a malicious campaign was being run against BJP’s Mayor nominee Rajesh Kalia for political interests.

In a statement today, Sood claimed that the cheque-bounce complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act by Harish Chhabra was dismissed by the JMIC, Chandigarh, on December 2, 2016. He proved that the cheque in question was misused as it was never issued nor the source of income was proved on record by Chhabra.

The former Mayor said Kalia was acquitted in a case pertaining to FIR No 62 dated March 31, 1994. The court of Additional Sessions’ Judge had convicted him on April 1, 1998, and sentenced him to one-year imprisonment. However, Kalia filed a criminal revision in the High Court against the conviction. The High Court, via order dated March 16, 2010, modified the sentence. It set aside the one-year imprisonment and released him on probation under Section 4 (1) of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958. Hence, there is no conviction in this case, Sood said.

In the gambling case, he was fined Rs 50 and there was no imprisonment, the BJP leader said. In this case, neither Chhabra nor his counsel appeared before the High Court on various dates of hearing. Even no notice was issued to Kalia by the High Court.

Councillors united, claim Kirron, Tandon

In a joint statement, city BJP president Sanjay Tandon and MP Kirron Kher claimed that all party councilors were united and the party’s official candidate, Rajesh Kalia, would be elected as the Mayor. The BJP leaders said some councillors who rebelled against the party’s decision would be mollified and change their stand. A joint meeting of all councillors would be held at the BJP office here on Thursday. TNS

Election to be held at 3 pm tomorrow

The Deputy Commissioner has changed the timing of the election of Mayor from 11 am to 3 pm on January 18. This is for the first time that the election will be held in the evening. An MC official said the timing was changed as a councillor, Kanwar Rana, requested for it as he had to take a law exam in the morning. Meanwhile, the decision on voting rights for the nominated councillors is likely to be pronounced on Friday. TNS