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EC to take call on complaints against SHO Bajwa: Punjab poll officer
FIR row: Punjab CEO seeking inputs from offices involved in poll process, to write to EC.
The chief electoral officer (CEO), Punjab, has decided to send all complaints regarding inspector Parminder Singh Bajwa, station house officer of Mehatpur in Shahkot segment who registered a case of illegal mining against Congress’ bypoll candidate Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia, to the Election Commission of India (EC) to decide on any action against him.
CEO Dr S Karuna Raju said this in reference to complaints received by his office against the SHO from various quarters. “We are examining these complaints and I have sought inputs over these from different offices involved in the election process. It’s not a normal situation, and that’s why we are taking time before writing to the EC to take the final call,” Raju told HT.
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It is learn that the CEO has received three complaints, including one by the deputy commissioner of Jalandhar who is district electoral officer (DEO) under whose jurisdiction Shahkot falls, for “dereliction of duties”. The DEO has also attached the report of a probe conducted by a superintendent of police in which the SHO has been accused of defying the EC’s code of conduct.
Bajwa made headlines after he registered the FIR against Ladi for illegal mining on May 4 within hours of the Congress’ naming Ladi as candidate. Since then, he has been apparently embarrassing the government by giving statements to the media on different issues.
The second complaint is by Ladi, who has accused the SHO of not following procedures before registering the FIR and of being hand-in-glove with the opposition parties SAD and AAP.
The third complaint is from the office of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) after he took jibes at the CM’s personal life. The party has also provided footage of the media interviews in which Bajwa is purportedly “admitting to” proximity with the SAD leaders and AAP’s Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
“All complaints are serious; that’s why my office is treading cautiously. Because, once the EC takes a decision, it will be irreversible,” said Raju.
Meanwhile, a senior officer posted in the office of the CEO who is not authorised to speak with the media, said, “The SHO has clearly violated the EC’s code of conduct for officers. He is openly giving political statements and can be seen hurling abuses at senior politicians as well. As he is on election duty in Shahkot, he cannot have overnight stays in hotels in Jalandhar, 30 km from the constituency,” .
The officer said that by late Wednesday evening the office of the CEO was likely to forward his report to the EC, which is expected to take a final call on Thursday. n The polling is scheduled for May 28 and result for May 30.
