Guwahati: Altogether seven candidates in the fray in the third and final phase of Lok Sabha polls of April 24, including two sitting MPs, have cases pending against them.
AIUDF president and Dhubri sitting MP Badruddin Ajmal and BJP’s sitting Nowgong MP Rajen Gohain have cases pending against them as have former ULFA ‘Commander’ Naba (Hira) Sarania who is contesting as an independent from Kokrajhar.
Another AIUDF candidate Paresh Baishya from Mangaldoi and three independents contesting for the Gauhati seat – Anil Bhagawati, Faruk Aahammed Bhuyan and Benedict Alok Areng too have cases pending against, according to the affidavits filed by the candidates during nomination.
Ajmal’s case under IPC Sections 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 153(A)(B) (promoting enmity between different groups, imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) 109 (abatement) has been taken cognizance of by Kokrajhar chief judicial magistrate in 2012.
The case against him was filed by a person S I Islary alleging that provocative speeches were delivered in Bodoland Territorial Council areas instigating Muslim people to retaliate and inflict atrocities.
A case under sections 500 (defamation), 501(b) (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 34 (a criminal act done in furtherance of common intention) of IPC is pending against Gohain in the court of the first class judicial magistrate and is at the stage of recording of statement of the accused.
The case was filed by Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain against Gohain, Agradoot Publishers Limited, Editor of Assamese daily ‘Dainik Agradoot’ Kanak Sen Deka and the daily’s Printer and Publisher B Deka for publication of a news on November 5, 2008 against the minister wherein he was termed as a ‘jehadi’ by the MP.
Sarania, who was released on bail early this year, has several cases, including two CBI cases, pending against him in different courts which are punishable with death or imprisonment for life and fine.
The CBI cases filed under Sections 364(A) (kidnapping for ransom) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) are pending in the courts of additional district and sessions judge of Kamrup and was taken cognizance of on February 2, 2010 and December 15, 2012 respectively.
Another case filed by Dispur police against Sarania under IPC sections 396 (dacoity with murder), 364(kidnapping in order to murder), 412 (dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity), 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence).
Case filed against him under Section 25(1) of Arms Act and read with Section 5 of Assam Land Grabbing Act is pending before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup.
Another case pending against Sarania under the same IPC sections is pending in the same court.
AIUDF’s Mangaldoi candidate Paresh Baishya has two cases filed by Nalbari police pending and have been taken cognizance of by the Assam special judge with charges framed in the second one.
The first case has been filed under sections 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 468 (forgery for cheating) /420 (cheating) of IPC and read with 7/13 of Prevention of Corruption Act while the second case is under sections 7/13 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, under sections 109/120(B), 34 IPC read with 7/9/12/13 of Prevention of Corruption Act.
Gauhati independent candidate Anil Bhagawati too has two cases pending. Cognizance of one case has been taken by the court of Kamrup sub-divisional judicial magistrate(I) under IPC sections 420, 458 (trespass or housebreaking) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
The second case, under sections 420, 506, 34 (involvement of several persons for a common intention) of IPC has been taken cognizance of by the court of additional chief judicial magistrate, Kamrup.
Faruk Aahammed Bhuyan also has a case under Section 420 of IPC against him which has been taken cognizance of by the Kamrup chief judicial magistrate.
Benedict Alok Areng has pending cases under sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapons, 149 (guilty of common offence) and 302 of IPC.
In the first phase of polls held on April seven, there were three candidates, including controversial former Congress MP Moni Kumar Subba, and in the second phase two candidates, both of the Congress, had cases pending against them. (PTI)