Patiala, March 23
Inquiry officer PS Gill has given a clean chit to the organisers of the March 20 Shiromani Akali Dal rally at Ghanaur where liquor was allegedly distributed to woo voters. In the inquiry report, the officer has absolved the party cadre of any wrongdoing stating that “no faces highlighted in the media report” can be identified.

Alleged SAD workers carry liquor cases in Ghanaur near Patiala

The Election Commission had sought a detailed report from the district administration over the flouting of the model code of conduct after The Tribune highlighted the violation. The rally was held by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal in support of SAD-BJP candidate from Patiala constituency Deepinder Dhillon. The Congress had alleged that the officer selected to conduct the probe was close to Sukhbir. The party has now demanded a fresh inquiry. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Gill was picked by the Patiala Deputy Commissioner for the probe since he was the returning officer for Ghanaur.

Sources in the Election Commission said Gill submitted the report on Friday to District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Gopal Krishan Singh. In the report, the inquiry officer said there was no evidence to establish the fact that liquor was distributed among voters.

“For evidence, the probe officer banked on the telephonic statement of Ghanaur MLA Harpreet Kaur Mukhmailpur and did not collect evidence from the media or eyewitnesses,” a source said. The report further says pictures published in the media do not reveal faces and thus could not help identify anyone. While more pictures of the alleged liquor distribution at the rally were available, the probe officer failed to collect these as evidence.

District Congress chief Hardyal Kambhoj claimed Gill was Sukhbir’s classmate, something Gill had admitted to the media at the time of his joining the Patiala post last year. “Instead of summoning eyewitnesses, Gill recorded the statement of the MLA who hosted the rally. The Election Commission should reject the report,” he said.

Patiala Deputy Commissioner Gopal Krishan Singh said he had forwarded the report to the EC. The inquiry officer could not establish anything pertaining to liquor distribution, he said.

On why an officer considered close to the Deputy CM was assigned the probe, the Deputy Commissioner said: “PS Gill is the Ghanaur’s Returning Officer and the rally was held under his jurisdiction.”