E-Paper
Dharmendra, Hema accused of cheating voters
Cong charged the duo had embraced Islam and were rechristened as Dilawar and Aisha, but they have filed papers with different names.
Two Congress leaders have filed a complaint in a local court and lodged a criminal case against film actor and BJP candidate from Bikaner, Dharmendra.
They alleged, that Dharmendra had filed his nomination papers in the name of Dharmendra Singh Deol while the fact was that Dharemendra's name was Dilawar Khan. On May 2, 1980 he embraced Islam and was rechristened as Dilawar Khan to marry Hema Malini who also embraced Islam and was renamed as Aisha for facilitation of their marriage.
Through another complaint to the Election Commission the two Congress leaders have demanded the cancellation of Dharmendra's nomination from Bikaner Lok Sabha seat and Hema Malini's nomination as a Rajya Sabha member.
State Congress minority cell vice-president Akhtar Baig and Congress leader KK Mishra filed the complaint in the court of First Class magistrate on Thursday through their counsel Shailendra Dwivedi. They have requested the court to order lodging of a criminal case against Dharmendra under Section 295, 298, 500 and 420 of IPC.
In this regard the court has fixed April 19 for recording of evidence from the complainants' side.
In the complaint to the court Akhtar Baig and KK Mishra have said that by filing his nomination papers in the name of Dharmendra he has concealed the facts regarding his real name and religion. Thus he has not only cheated the EC but also all the people of the country including the voters of Bikaner.
They further added, as per Hindu Marriages Act nobody can marry second time without divorcing his first wife. The Act did not allow anybody to embrace another religion just for the sake of marriage while already being married.
Therefore if he had converted for the sake of marriage and had now reconverted himself to be a Hindu as his name on the nomination papers suggests then it was contempt to the Islamic Shariat and his act had hurt the feelings of the Muslim community
They said, when Dharmendra and Hema Malini marriage in 1980 had been objected in Rajya Sabha by certain members like Hameeda Habibullah, Bhupesh Gupta and Ladli Mohan Nigam against the marriage. They termed the marriage as illegal, for Dharmendra was already married and had two children from the first marriage.
In the complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner they have asked him to take appropriate steps against the accused on the ground of their wrong declaration about their name and religion.
