Guwahati: Congress candidates in both the constituencies of Assam’s Barak Valley–Karimganj’s sitting MP Lalit Mohan Suklabaidya and Silchar’s Sushmita Dev– have cases pending against them in different courts.
The constituencies go to polls in the second phase on April 12. There was no Congress candidate in the first phase with cases pending against them and the party had even denied ticket to controversial three-time party MP from Tezpur, Moni Kumar Subba who went on to contest as an Independent.
Suklabaidya has two cases–a vigilance and an election petition case–against him in the Supreme Court, according to the affidavit submitted by him during nominations. The Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance case No: 3 was filed against Suklabaidya in November 1997 in Kamrup under Sections 120B/166/409/420 IPC read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Charges have not been framed against the MP who approached the Supreme Court following which the highest Court stayed the proceedings till further directions by an order dated July 5, 2013.
The second case against Suklabaidya was related to an election petition filed in 2009 which was taken cognisance by Gauhati High Court but he filed a Civil Appeal before the Supreme Court in 2011 where it is still pending.
Congress MLA and Lok Sabha candidate from Silchar, Sushmita Dev also has a case pending in the Court of Silchar’s Additional Session Judge, according to her affidavit.
First Class Judicial Magistrate, Silchar had taken cognisance by issuing summons to Dev under the provision of Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Municipal Solid Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2000.
A Criminal Revision Petition was filed against the said order in 2013 which is now pending in the Court of Additional Session Judge, Silchar. (PTI)