False affidavit by Shimla MC councillor, opposition demands disqualification from house

Ruling party councilor of Shimla Municipal Corporation Sanjeev Sood was charged by the Congress for submission of a false affidavit before the civic body and even then, allowed to continued to serve as councilor. Congress president of Shimla Unit Jitender Chaudhary said in a statement issued today that Director, Urban Development has passed an order on Nov 2 , 2020 to disqualify his membership for encroachment and submission of false affidavit.

After establishment of fact that the accused councilor had filed a false affidavit before the Shimla MC that there are no pending cases of encroachment against him, the UD Director in an order, had recommended disqualification of membership via a letter to the secretary State Urban Development.

Chaudhary alleged that on Feb 28 and Mar 20, 2020, a complaint was also filed before the Chief Minister, Urban Development and Civic body against Sood about concealment of facts  and filing false affidavit in this regard.

However the necessary order was deliberately being delayed since the last five months, by the  state secretariat, stated Chaudhary. He said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Urban Development minister Suresh Bhardwaj were shielding the accused owing to affiliation with the ruling party.

Congress leader said that two complaints were pending against the councillor. The first is about encroachment of Government land. The second complaint is about the illegal construction of 5.25 square meter.

The Director Urban Development passing an order to disqualify the BJP nominated Councilor in Shimla MC is a major weapon with opposition, against the ruling party, especially when the election process in four Municipal Corporations in the state is on last stage.

The Congress leader alleged that matter is still pending with the SMC as a team of Shimla MC visited the spot after submission of no encroachment affidavit and found encroachment of 206.42 square meter.

Not denying the complaint of filing the alleged affidavit the councillor sounded defensive in the matter. Talking about the complaint of encroachment, he informed that demarcation proceeding was done twice. The councilor maintained that encroachment had been removed and subsequently an affidavit was filed before the Commissioner.