Punjab Ex-Minister Rana Sodhi Among 7 Booked For Poll Violence

Former Punjab minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, who fought the assembly elections on the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) ticket from Ferozepur Urban segment, and former chief parliamentary secretary Sukhpal Singh Nannu are among seven people booked on charges of assault and intimidation, nearly two weeks after the incident that happened on the polling day.

The Ferozepur police have also registered a case of illegal detention against the complainant, Surjit Singh, depending on the counter-complaint submitted by Rana Gurmit. Rana Gurmit was the sports minister under Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government. He had joined the BJP ahead of the elections after his exclusion from CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s cabinet.

According to the first FIR, Surjit Singh was allegedly thrashed by Rana Gurmit, Nannu, and five others on 20th February. After preliminary police investigation into the complaints submitted by both parties, Rana Gurmit, Nannu, Sonu Singh, Mangat Singh, Satnam Singh, Vanzara Singh, and Surinder Singh were booked under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) on the basis of a medical examination report. Surjit and some other unidentified persons were also booked under section 506 (criminal intimidation) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC.