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Journalism of Courage
The BJP is glad to have found someone who can be a match for the Congress8217;s Vithal Radadiya at Dhoraji, the only seat in Rajkot where the saffron party isn8217;t on a sure footing.
If Radadiya has 16 criminal cases against him, the BJP8217;s Shamji Khoont has two cases against him8212;one for fraud and the other for stealing power. Like the Congress8217;s star candidate, 65-year-old Khoont has financial clout and has roots in the cooperative and education sectors. And most importantly, like Radadiya, Khoont is a Leuva Patel and that8217;s the dominant caste in this constituency.
The BJP expects Khoont to connect to farmers8212;he was Rajkot Marketing Yard president from 1995 to 19988212;who have, for the last three terms been loyal to the Congress. Khoont is new to Dhoraji but is well-known in the constituency because of the Leuva Patel hostel he runs in Rajkot, where the youth of Dhoraji get affordable and decent accommodation.
For years, he ran Astron Cinema, a successful movie hall in Rajkot.
Khoont says his criminal records aren8217;t his fault. 8220;I had become a victim of circumstances. Whatever cases I face is due to irresponsibility on the part of my business partners,8221; he said.
According to a case registered at the Wankaner police station, Khoont has been accused of fraud and cheating over a payment of Rs 45 lakh. In another case, he was accused of stealing power for his ceramic mill at Wankaner.
Shamji Khoont BJP
CRIME FILE
8226; There are two cases registered against him:
one for fraud and another for stealing power
ASSETS
Cash: Rs 10,000.
Investments: Rs 6,67,699
Wife8217;s land: Rs 10,39,624
Children8217;s land: Rs 26,61,715
