Bathinda: The Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO) has written to the Bathinda DC to send a report at the earliest about the complaint against AAP MLA from Talwandi Sabo Baljinder Kaur for having two votes made at different times with different names of father.
Bathinda-based RTI activist Harmilap Singh Grewal filed a complaint to the CEO on August 19. The latter has asked the DC to send a report promptly as it has to be sent to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The matter was also raised during the 2014 byelection for the Talwandi Sabo constituency and during the 2017 assembly polls. The Bathinda DC had earlier made it clear that the district authorities had conducted an inquiry in the past where it was found that Baljinder had only one vote.
Harmilap has accused Baljinder of getting her nomination to the state assembly on a fake vote and has demanded from the CEO to conduct an inquiry into the serious irregularity. He stated that as per the Hindu Adoption Act once a person was adopted by anyone he/she could not go back to their biological father without following a lengthy legal process.
Grewal alleged that Baljinder got a fresh vote made in 2011, where she named her father as Darshan Singh (biological father). He alleged that she got a vote made earlier in 2002, where she had named her father as Amarjit Singh. Grewal alleged that she had signed an affidavit in 2007, showing her to be the adopted daughter of Amarjit.
Bathinda DC Diprava Lakra said that, "We have investigated the matter and found that Baljinder has only one vote. Now, again an inquiry will be conducted and a report will be sent to the Punjab CEO at the earliest."
On the other hand, Baljinder has refuted the charges, asserting that the matter had already been investigated by the ECI and nothing wrong was found. She said false allegations were being levelled time and again to defame her.
Bathinda-based RTI activist Harmilap Singh Grewal filed a complaint to the CEO on August 19. The latter has asked the DC to send a report promptly as it has to be sent to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The matter was also raised during the 2014 byelection for the Talwandi Sabo constituency and during the 2017 assembly polls. The Bathinda DC had earlier made it clear that the district authorities had conducted an inquiry in the past where it was found that Baljinder had only one vote.
Harmilap has accused Baljinder of getting her nomination to the state assembly on a fake vote and has demanded from the CEO to conduct an inquiry into the serious irregularity. He stated that as per the Hindu Adoption Act once a person was adopted by anyone he/she could not go back to their biological father without following a lengthy legal process.
Grewal alleged that Baljinder got a fresh vote made in 2011, where she named her father as Darshan Singh (biological father). He alleged that she got a vote made earlier in 2002, where she had named her father as Amarjit Singh. Grewal alleged that she had signed an affidavit in 2007, showing her to be the adopted daughter of Amarjit.
Bathinda DC Diprava Lakra said that, "We have investigated the matter and found that Baljinder has only one vote. Now, again an inquiry will be conducted and a report will be sent to the Punjab CEO at the earliest."
On the other hand, Baljinder has refuted the charges, asserting that the matter had already been investigated by the ECI and nothing wrong was found. She said false allegations were being levelled time and again to defame her.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
