Ex-BJP councillor Neetu declared proclaimed person

A Ludhiana court has declared former BJP councillor Gurdeep Singh Neetu a proclaimed person in connection with an election-related case.

Judicial Magistrate Yadwinder Singh passed the order in an FIR registered at the Division No 2 police station, after the suspect failed to appear before the court despite due process.

According to the prosecution, the case was registered on the basis of a tip-off received by the police. The informer had alleged that Gurdeep was campaigning for his wife Gurmeet Kaur, a BJP candidate from Ward 75 in Municipal Corporation elections, beyond the deadline fixed by the Deputy Commissioner and he was also distributing liquor to voters to influence the poll process.

The police had earlier arrested the suspect, who was subsequently granted bail. However, after the filing of the chargesheet, he did not appear before the court during proceedings of the case.

The court records reveal that proclamation proceedings under Section 82, CrPC, had already been executed against Gurdeep on February 20. The statement of the serving official was recorded on February 27. Despite the lapse of the statutory period of 30 days, no one appeared on behalf of the suspect.

Observing non-compliance, the court declared Gurdeep as a proclaimed person and directed that necessary intimation be sent to the police station concerned for making an entry in the relevant register.

Davinder Kumar and Ajay Kumar are co-accused in the case.

The case is now fixed for arguments on framing charges against the suspects on the next date of hearing, which is May 7.