Anand blames fraud for RS poll loss, files police complaint

Lawyer R.K. Anand has lodged a complaint with Chandigarh Police against media baron Subhash Chandra, who won the recent Rajya Sabha election from Haryana with the BJP backing, and others, a lawyer said on Friday.

The complaint was filed against Chandra, BJP legislators Aseem Goel and Bhai Jai Parkash, and certain officials from the returning officer's office and other "unknown persons".

"Anand has lodged a complaint with Chandigarh's Inspector General of Police Tajender Singh Luthra against Chandra and others for offences dealing with cheating, forgery, mischief and theft under the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act," Anand's lawyer V.K. Arora said.

"...accused Subhash Chandra hatched a criminal conspiracy with accused Aseem Goel and Bhai Jai Parkash, certain officials from the office of the Returning Officer, and other unknown persons to sabotage the process of election and secure a victory through fraud," the complaint said.

"... they got the original pen removed from the polling area in a clandestine and dishonest manner in order to cause sabotage to the election and wrongful loss to the complainant (Anand), thereby giving benefit of victory to accused Subhash Chandra," the complaint added.

Subhash Chandra -- an Independent candidate supported by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party -- was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Haryana, defeating Congress-backed Independent R.K. Anand. Chandra got 24 votes while Anand managed 15.

As many as 14 Congress votes were rejected in the 90-member assembly, leading to Anand's defeat. He was otherwise expected to win the Rajya Sabha seat.

The complainant said that Chandra and other accused interfered with the free exercise of electoral right of the legislators, thereby committing an offence under Section 171-C (undue influence at elections) of the IPC.

The complaint said that the accused changed the original pen and substituted it with a new pen which diminished the value of votes through the ballot papers and committed the offence of mischief.

Anand claimed that Chandra and others committed the offences of theft and breach of trust by allegedly entering the polling area.

--IANS

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