Assam court summons CM Himanta, wife for poll code violation during 2019 LS elections
India Today
The chief judicial magistrate of Kamrup Metropolitan summoned Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan for allegedly violating the model code of conduct during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan, who is the chairman-cum-managing director of an Assamese news channel, have been summoned by the chief judicial magistrate of Kamrup Metropolitan for alleged violation of the model code of conduct during the 2019 Lok Sabha poll.
Kamrup Metropolitan Chief Judicial Magistrate A K Baruah in an order dated February 11 asked both the accused to appear before the court on February 25.
The case was filed by the additional chief electoral officer in May 2019 against Sarma, who was a minister holding several portfolios in former chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal's cabinet, and the News Live TV Channel for allegedly violating model code of conduct.
The Election Department had filed the case after receiving complaints from the then president and general secretary of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee on April 10, 2019.
The judge in his order said that on perusal of the documents there is prima facie material under section 126(1)(b) of the Representation of People's Act against Sarma and his wife to take cognizance of the offence mentioned above.
The section says that broadcasters shall not broadcast any "election matter" i.e. any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election during the 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for the conclusion of polling.The order noted that as per the complaint, Sarma and the News Live Channel, which owned by Pride East Entertainments Pvt Ltd represented by the then chairman-cum-managing director, violated the model code of conduct of Lok Sabha election.
The channel, of which Riniki Bhuyan Sarma is now the chairman and managing director, had telecast a live interview of the present chief minister at 7.55 PM on April 10, 2019, which was within 48 hours of the first phase of polls scheduled on April 11.
