Plea seeks probe into inclusion of Sonia’s name in electoral roll
A plea on Tuesday sought action against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi alleging her name was included in the electoral rolls three years before she became an Indian citizen. The application before additional chief judicial magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia under Section 175 (4) (power of Magistrate to order investigation) has sought directions to police for investigation into the allegation that Gandhi became an Indian citizen in 1983, but her name was in the 1980 electoral roll.
Senior advocate Pavan Narang appearing for the complainant, Vikas Tripathi, argued that according to some documents, it was clear that Sonia Gandhi took citizenship on April 30, 1983. He said her name was included in the electoral roll as a voter of the New Delhi constituency in 1980, which was deleted in 1982, and again re-entered in 1983 after she acquired Indian citizenship. “What documents were given to the election commission (EC) when her name got included in 1980?” he asked.
He claimed there was “some forgery” and that a public authority had been “cheated.” “My limited request is either direct the police to register an FIR under appropriate sections. Whether they are made out or not is the domain of the police,” Narang said. The court has posted the matter for September 10.
High Court suspends sentence of godman Rampal in murder cases
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has suspended the life sentences of self-styled godman Sant Rampal in two murders cases relating to the deaths of his disciples during clashes that took place between his followers and police who had come to arrest him in 2014. The bench of Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill and Justice Deepinder Singh Nalwa said that there are certainly some debatable issues particularly regarding cause of death being homicidal or not. The HC also directed Rampal not to participate in congregations.
“Even the eye-witness, who are relatives of the deceased have not supported the case of the prosecution and have rather stated that conditions of suffocation were created due to tear gas shells,” said the court on the order dated Sept 2. The Court took into consideration the advancing age of Rampal. The case was registered on the deaths of four women and a child.
“Having regard to the fact that the applicant/appellant as on date is aged about 74 years and has undergone substantial period of sentence i.e. 10 years, 08 months & 21 days, we find it to be a fit case for suspending the sentence of the applicant/appellant during pendency of the main appeal,” the Court said.
“The applicant is however, directed not to promote any kind of “mob mentality” and to avoid participating in congregations where there is any kind of tendency amongst “disciples” or participants to cause breach in peace, law and order,” the Court directed to prevent from participating in congregations.