‘Gurpreet Kangar filed false affidavit,concealed info to contest 2007 polls’

Section 33-A of the Representation of the People Act,1951,says a candidate,while filing nomination papers for contesting Assembly polls,has to file an affidavit about the cases pending against him,apart from affidavits detailing his and his dependents’ assets and liabilities.

In the complaint (accessed by The Indian Express),Gupta accused Kangar of concealing information on a number of counts. Gupta said that in the affidavit submitted along with the nomination papers for contesting 2007 Assembly elections from Phul,Gurpreet Kangar “concealed the material fact that he is a partner in a bus service,namely M/s The Kangar Bus Service Regd. Rampura Phul”.

He said the accused also concealed in the affidavit the “he is a partner in Dhaliwal Traders,a commission agent firm at village Jalal (Licence number 887 BHB),Dhaliwal Trading Company at Aklia Jalal (License number 599 BHB),Dhaliwal Traders at Bhagta Bhai Ka (License number 888 BHB),M/s Dhaliwal Trading Company at Dyalpura Bhaika (License number 524 BHB) and Dhaliwal Trading Company at Mandi Kangar (Licence number 966 BHB)”.

“The accused has also concealed that fact in his affidavit that he had taken a loan from Punjab Vidhan Sabha and an amount of Rs 5.88 lakh was outstanding against him on 25.01.2007,” the complaint reads.

Besides,Kangar also concealed that he was the “owner” of a car bearing registration number CH-03J-1890,and that he owned seven and half marlas in Bhagta Bhaika village.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sikander Singh Malooka,who had contested against Kangar unsuccessfully in 2007 polls,had written a letter to the Election Commission of India seeking appropriate penal action against Kangar for furnishing “false affidavit” in April 2007.

Acting on the complaint,the commission directed the Bathinda District Election Office to look into the matter.

Gupta,when asked why it took so long to file the criminal complaint against Kangar said,delay was a due to procedural period where he had also sought some clarifications. “I got a reply from the district election office,on May 17 and then filed a criminal complaint,” Gupta said.

Kangar,however,said all allegations were baseless. “In the affidavit,I have mentioned about my share in Kangar Bus Service. As far as the car is concerned,I had sold it off years before filing the affidavit and the car was also transferred to a Delhi-based person. I have proof and I have faith in the court,” Kangar added.

The matter will come up for hearing in July.