In connection with violation of the Model Code of Conduct during the 2009 lok Sabha election and for failing to appear in the court, the Haridwar Chief Judicial Magistrate issued a non-bailable warrant against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and two other persons. The court has fixed June 23 as the date for the next hearing of this case.
It may be mentioned here that court issued non-bailable warrant against State Chief Minister Rawat, Cabinet Minister Dinesh Aggarwal and Khanpur MlA Pranav Singh ‘Champion' for failing to appear in the court on the hearing date.
Sources said that in the 2009 parliamentary election, Rawat was contesting from Haridwar lok Sabha seat and the then Manglaur police station inspector JS Rawat had registered a case against Rawat and three other persons including Rajendra Singh, district president of Congress in March 2009 for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct. These leaders had allegedly distributed sweets among voters to woo them in the favour of the Congress candidate.
In addition to this, without prior permission from Returning Officer, they had used large number of vehicles in the rally, even though Section 144 was enforced in the area. In March, 2013, the court had issued non-bailable warrant against all the four accused. On August 2013, Rajendra Singh appeared and had secured a bail from the court, while the three other politicians neither appeared nor secured bail from the court. Failing to appear in the court on May 22 this year, the court issued non bailable warrants against these three politicians.