Cricket
Elections 2019: AAP files complaint against Gambhir for “possessing two voter cards”
Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir, who is BJP’s candidate for the East Delhi seat, is facing the election heat after his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rival, Atishi, filed a complaint against the former opening batsman, alleging that he possesses two voter identity cards.
Atishi claimed that Gambhir has enrolled as a voter in two separate places — Delhi’s Karol Bagh and Rajinder Nagar, both of which fall under the Central Delhi parliamentary seat. If proven correct, Gambhir would be found guilty of violating the Representation of the People Act of 1950 and his candidature might even be cancelled.
The Act clearly states: “No person shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral rolls for more than one constituency…[If found guilty of violating the Act, a person] shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.”
Gambhir, in his affidavit submitted to the returning officer at the time of nomination, stated that he is only registered to vote in the Rajinder Nagar-39 assembly constituency. However, AAP claims that Gambhir is registered to vote at both Karol Bagh and Rajinder Nagar and had “deliberately” and “illegally” concealed the information in his nomination papers.
On behalf of the AAP, a complaint was filed in the Tis Hazari Court, seeking direction for police to carry out an investigation into offences under the Representation of the People Act.
The plea,filed by advocate Mohd Irshad, has accused Gambhir of providing false information in his nomination papers and affidavit to appear to be eligible for contesting the Lok Sabha polls.The complaint sought directions for Delhi police to carry out an investigation for alleged violations of sections 17 and 31 of the RPA, 1950, and section 125A (penalty for filing false affidavit) of the RPA, 1951.
In the complaint, Atishi states: “It is clear that the Gambhir has made and continues to provide false information/statements/ declarations to the relevant authorities like the Election Commission of India in order to obtain and retain enrolments as a voter in two constituencies.”
In a series of tweets on Friday, Atishi accused Gambhir of providing false information and said the former southpaw will be “disqualified as a candidate sooner or later”. With the hashtag GambhirApradh, Atishi tweeted, “I have filed a criminal complaint against the BJP candidate from East Delhi Gautam Gambhir over his possession of two voter IDs in two separate constituencies of Delhi, Karol Bagh and Rajinder Nagar.”
She added, “In his affidavit to the Returning Officer while filing his nomination, Gambhir concealed the information that he is also registered to vote in Karol Bagh, which is punishable under Sec 125A of the Representation of the People Act with up to 6 months jail time… Under Section 17, read with Section 31, false declaration in the matter of electoral rolls is punishable with jail time of up to one year… If this information had been revealed by us at the time of scrutiny, his nomination would have been cancelled. This is a disqualifiable offence that will lead to his disqualification sooner or later.”
https://twitter.com/AtishiAAP/status/1121683747798048773The tweet, as of now, has been liked more than 4,000 times and retweeted more than 1000 times.
In a separate tweet, Atishi appealed to the people to not “waste” their votes by choosing Gambhir as he will be “disqualified” soon. She tweeted: “My appeal to the citizens of East Delhi Lok Sabha- plsdon’t waste your vote by voting for @GautamGambhir; he is going to get disqualified sooner or later for having two Voter ID cards! अपना वोट व्यर्थ ना करें!”
https://twitter.com/AtishiAAP/status/1121683792295424001Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo has retweeted a response to this tweet.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Saturday directed the Delhi Police to file an FIR against Gambhir for “holding a political rally without taking the permission”. “We have received a complaint from the election commission on Friday against Gautam Gambhir for conducting a meeting on Thursday in Lajpat Nagar. We took action under Delhi Police Act and filed a Kalandara against him after issuing challan,” DCP (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. Latching on to the issue, Atishi tweeted on Saturday, “First, Discrepancies in nomination papers. Then, Criminal offence of having 2 voter IDs. Now, FIR for illegal rally. My question to @GautamGambhir: When you don't know the rules, why play the game?” https://twitter.com/AtishiAAP/status/1122050612034621440 Gambhir, himself, is yet to come out with a statement on the matter. The Delhi court has said that it will hear the case of May 1.