Jharkhand: Court imposes fine of Rs 200 on Union Mininister Annapurna Devi for violating poll code

The hearing of the case in the court took place under Section 130E of the People's Representation Act. Later, the charge sheet was framed in the court and 11 people turned up as witnesses.

Ranchi/Hazaribag: The court in the Hazaribag district of Jharkhand found Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi guilty of violating the model code of conduct. The court has imposed a fine of Rs 200 on the Union M. If she fails to pay the fine, then she will have to undergo a simple jail term of one day. The incident dates back to May 13, 2019, when Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM)'s leader Mahesh Ram lodged a complaint against Union Minister Annapurna Devi. In the complaint, Mahesh had alleged that Annapurna Devi arrived at a polling booth to cast her vote carrying the party's election symbol along with her.

The hearing in the court took place under Section 130E of the People's Representation Act. Later, the charge sheet was framed and 11 people tuned up as witnesses. After completion of the hearing, the court of judicial magistrate Ist Class-cum-additional Munsif V, Mariam Hembrom, found the Union Minister guilty and slapped a fine of Rs 200 on her — failing which she will have to undergo simple imprisonment of one day. After the pronouncement of the quantum of punishment, the counsel of the Union Minister, Navnish Sinha said, "We will challenge the verdict in the district and sessions court."

Earlier, Annapurna Devi was the top political leader in Jharkhand RJD. She was also the president of the Jharkhand RJD. Annapurna Devi was loyal to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. But, she switched over loyalties to BJP and fought the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket. After joining the saffron party, Annapurna Devi was made the national vice-president. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government's cabinet expansion took place, she was made the Union Minister of State for Education.