FIR against Congress's Kangra candidate

DHARAMSHALA: The Congress candidate from Himachal’s Kangra

Lok Sabha

seat, Pawan Kajal, was on Wednesday booked in a case pertaining to distribution of pamphlets and calendars during poll rallies at Sullah, Shahpur and Jaisinghpur under the Representation of People Act.


The case has been registered at Dharamshala police station following the report of the election commission’s flying squad to the district election officer of Kangra. The report had mentioned that pamphlets and calendars distributed by Pawan Kajal did not bear a printline, while the name of publisher was fictitious in some of the poll material. The team had also maintained that some pamphlets contained caste-based messages, which is a violation of election code of conduct.The district election had sought legal opinion on the complaint after which permission was sought from state election commissioner to register a case under Section 127 (Any person who at a public meeting acts, or incites others to act, in a disorderly manner for preventing the transaction of the business).of the Representation of People Act.

The state election commission had ordered registration of case against Kajal on Saturday.

Kangra

Santosh Patial confirmed that a case has been registered against Kajal at Dharamsala police station.

Talking to TOI on phone, Kajal said that he had not distributed any objectionable material in violation of rules and alleged that the BJP was trying to politically victimize him.

In case of conviction, the accused in such a case is liable for 6 months jail under Section 127-A of the Act. The section 125 of the Act deals with promoting enmity between classes in connection with the elections, and can invite a punishment up to 2 years and can get the candidate banned from contesting elections for 6 years.