SAD rebel and independent candidate Simarjit Singh Bains is the sole candidate contesting from Ludhiana, who possesses past criminal record. In one of the cases registered against him, charges have been framed against him, as per the information provided by Bains in the nomination form submitted to the returning officer on Monday.
Bains has mentioned information of two cases registered against him, including murderous attack on tehsildar GS Benipal in 2009. The case has been sub judice. He has not been convicted by the court in any case yet.
According to the information lying with the police department, at least six criminal cases were registered against Bains from 2001 to 2009. Most of the cases were registered against him after joining Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in 2004. Earlier, he was a member of SAD (Amritsar).
It is pertinent to mention that Bains had left SAD in 2012, when he was denied party ticket to contest the assembly elections.
Bains, along with his brother Balwinder Singh Bains, had contested assembly elections as independent contestants from South and Atam Nagar constituencies, defeating SADBJP candidates — former minister Hira Singh Gabria and former mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura — with a huge margin.
Later, Bains had extended support to SAD-BJP alliance in the assembly. Now, Bains is contesting parliamentary elections as an independent contestant from Ludhiana.
{{/usCountry}}Later, Bains had extended support to SAD-BJP alliance in the assembly. Now, Bains is contesting parliamentary elections as an independent contestant from Ludhiana.
{{/usCountry}}On the other hand, no case has been registered against Congress candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu, SAD-BJP alliance candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali and Aam Aadmi Party’s HS Phoolka.
However, Ayali had faced controversy as kin of government school, Latala village, principal Ranjit Singh had accused Ayali of abetting his suicide in March.
The Khanna police had registered a case against three, but none against Ayali. Ranjit had mentioned Ayali’s name in the suicide note, but he had refuted the allegations.