BJP chairman aspirant in Samalkha hiding criminal charges: RTI activist

Mukesh Tandon

Panipat, June 12

An RTI activist had alleged that the BJP candidate for the chairman’s post in Samalkha Municipal Committee polls hasn’t revealed the criminal cases against him in the nomination form. The activist, PP Kapoor of Samalkha, also demanded the cancellation of the candidates nomination and an FIR against him for the alleged hiding of information.

In a complaint to the State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh, Deputy Commissioner Panipat and SDM Samalkha, Kapoor said the police had arrested Ashok Kuchhal for demanding extortion in a honey trap case on November 6, 2017. A case was registered against him under various Sections of the IPC in Samalkha police station, he added.

Around a year after the arrest, Kuchhal was released on bail by the High Court but the case was still pending and charges had been framed against him, the complainant said. The next hearing in the case was scheduled on July 12, Kapoor added.

He further alleged that Kuchhal had given a false affidavit along with his nomination form that there was no case pending against him nor has been charged by the court.

Kapoor mentioned that as per the point 21 (M) of the Haryana Municipal Election Rules, 1978, no person shall be eligible for election as president or a member of a municipal committee who has been convicted or charges have been framed against him by a court in a criminal case for an offense, punishable with the imprisonment for not less than 10 years.

Meanwhile, Kuchhal refuted the allegation and said if he was found of any wrongdoing in the nomination process, the EC should take the relevant decision.

SEC reported

Following the complaint, notice has been issued to the BJP candidate Ashok Kuchhal and his reply has been sought. After receiving the reply, it will be sent to the SEC with comments. Ashwani Malik, SDM, Samalkha