DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 15 (MExN): The Advocate for P. Cheong, who is contesting for the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 46-Mon town constituency as an independent candidate, has written to the newspaper pointing to the “incorrect publication” made in the February 14, 2013 edition wherein P. Cheong was mentioned as one of the candidates with a criminal case.
“This is absolutely false and incorrect. My client has a claim petition under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which is not a criminal case as could be apparent from the Form 26 filed by him at the time of nomination”, stated the letter issued by Imti Longjem, Advocate for the independent candidate. The Advocate clarified that the said case is civil in nature and not a criminal case as reported in the aforesaid article.
Pointing out that Mr. P.Cheong (my client) is contesting as an independent candidate from the 46-Mon town constituency, the Advocate informed that as required by law, he has filled the Form No. 26 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. Further in the Form No. 26/Affidavit, he has made a statement that there is a pending case in which cognizance has been taken. Accordingly, the Advocate informed that his client has also mentioned the case number and provisions of law under which the case has been registered.
“The case number is MACT Case No.26/2009 and it is a petition for claim for compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1998. My client is one of the Respondents in the aforesaid case, in as much as, he was one of the occupants travelling in the departmental vehicle which met with an accident”, clarified the Advocate while adding that said case is civil in nature and not a criminal case as reported.
A copy of P. Cheong’s Form 26 Affidavit which was filed along with nomination paper before the returning officer for election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 46-Mon Town (ST) constituency was made available to this newspaper.
