Sultanpur (UP), Sep 14 (PTI) Former Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas and ex Delhi ministers Somnath Bharti and Satyendar Jain were issued fresh summons by a court here on Monday after they failed to appear in a case related to alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Police had filed a chargesheet against Vishwas, Bharti and Jain on October 27, 2017, following which the court summoned them to appear in the case. However, the accused have not appeared before the court despite several hearings, according to case records.
Special MP-MLA court magistrate Shubham Verma issued the summons on Monday after the three accused did not appear in court. Advocate Madan Singh said his client Kumar Vishwas claimed that the proceedings in the matter had been stayed by the Supreme Court.
The court fixed September 23 as the next date of hearing.
The case dates back to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when Kumar Vishwas had contested as the Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Amethi against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
According to the prosecution, the then Amethi station house officer Mohammad Hamid had lodged a case on May 6, 2014, alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct against Vishwas, Bharti and Jain.
Campaigning for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Amethi had ended at 6 pm on May 5, 2014. Under the Election Commission’s orders, no outsider, except voters, was allowed to remain in the constituency after the end of campaigning.
It was alleged that Bharti, Jain and several other outsiders were present at Vishwas’ residence in Mahmoodpur in Amethi in violation of the Election Commission’s directions.
The FIR also alleged that Vishwas argued with the police when the then station house officer tried to explain the rules to him.
Meanwhile, the hearing was also adjourned in another Model Code of Conduct violation case registered against Vishwas at Bazar Shukul police station in Amethi after he failed to appear before the court on Monday.
The court, which has already issued summons to him in the case, fixed September 23 for the next hearing.
The case was registered on March 22, 2014, on a complaint by Jagdishpur Assembly constituency’s Flying Squad Officer Shiv Gopal Shukla.
According to the allegations, Vishwas took out an unauthorised procession between Mahona and Satthin with around 40 supporters in a convoy of five to six vehicles, allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct.
Police filed a chargesheet against him in the case on October 3, 2014. PTI CORR ABN RT
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