Ex-MLA’s criminal charges dropped

The court, which was hearing the criminal revision petition, set aside the charges registered under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

A Gurugram court has set aside criminal charges against former Gurgaon MLA and minister Sukhbir Kataria, who was accused of indulging in bogus voting and creating fake voter identity cards to allegedly influence the elections in 2009.

A Gurugram court has set aside criminal charges against former Gurgaon MLA and minister Sukhbir Kataria, who was accused of indulging in bogus voting and creating fake voter identity cards (Yogesh Kumar/HT File Photo)

The court, which was hearing the criminal revision petition, set aside the charges registered under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, the court directed that charges under provisions of Peoples Representation Act, 1950, were maintainable and allowed his prosecution under it.

The court order said, “The present criminal revision is allowed partly and the impugned order dated 12.11.2018, framing the charge against the revisionist (Kataria) is partly set aside to the effect that from the police challan and accompanying documents, only a prima-facie case for the offence punishable under section 31 of the Representation of People Act, 1950 is made out against the revisionist-accused and no prima-facie case for the offences under sections 420,467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC is made out against the revisionist accused.”

However, Kataria filed a special revision petition in the higher court stating that he had played no role in the bogus voting incident.