In a setback to the Congress, police on Friday booked Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia on the charge of illegal mining within hours of the declaration of his candidature for the Shahkot assembly bypoll, which is scheduled for May 28.
Ladi, 50, general secretary of the Punjab Congress, whose candidature was announced by the party around 1pm on Thursday, had lost the election last year to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Ajit Singh Kohar, whose death necessitated the bypoll.
On the complaint of Mohan Singh of Malrhi village in Nakodar, a case has been registered against Ladi, contractor of Kaimvala quarry Surjit Singh and Ashwinder Singh under Section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and Section 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a non-bailable offence, at the Mehatpur police station.
Station house officer (SHO) Parminder Singh Bajwa, who was transferred here two days back on the orders of the election commission, registered the FIR at 4.26am on Friday.
In his complaint to the Punjab chief election officer, Mohan Singh, general secretary of the brick kiln labourers’ union alleged that despite the model code of conduct being in force, illegal mining was rampant on panchayat land in Kaimvala, Rahpur Gujra, Gausuwal, Chelian, Baloki, Budhewal, Khurlapur, Chak Bahmnia and Pipli villages. “Illegal mining is being carried out at the behest of Congress halqa in-charge Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia,” he alleged in his complaint.
{{/usCountry}}In his complaint to the Punjab chief election officer, Mohan Singh, general secretary of the brick kiln labourers’ union alleged that despite the model code of conduct being in force, illegal mining was rampant on panchayat land in Kaimvala, Rahpur Gujra, Gausuwal, Chelian, Baloki, Budhewal, Khurlapur, Chak Bahmnia and Pipli villages. “Illegal mining is being carried out at the behest of Congress halqa in-charge Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia,” he alleged in his complaint.
{{/usCountry}}Deputy commissioner-cum-district election officer Varinder Kumar Sharma forwarded the complaint to the police and asked them to process it within 24 hours.
SSP, Jalandhar rural, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the election commission had only asked to inquire the complaint, but the SHO registered the FIR without taking any senior police officer in the loop. “I have asked the Shahkot DSP to probe the matter,” Bhullar said. A probe has also been marked to SP investigation Balkar Singh, said Bhullar.
When contacted, Ladi said the SHO didn’t even probe the allegations levelled in the complaint before registering the FIR. “I have faith in the election commission and clear my stand before it,” he said, adding that he was consulting his lawyer.