Cooch Behar, 19th November: Union Minister of State for Minorities John Barla surrendered in Tufanganj Sub-Divisional Sessions Court this morning after an arrest warrant was issued.
It is to be noted, the Tufanganj court issued the arrest warrant against Minister Barla for violation of the model code of conduct during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. It has been alleged that John Barla, the then BJP candidate from the Lok Sabha constituency, and his party’s activist supporters had held a road meeting in the BDO office premises violating the election’s code of conduct. Election Commission officials then lodged a written complaint against him and three others on charges of the same. The remaining three were granted bail. Despite sending summon to John Barla by the court on 15th November, neither he nor his lawyer appeared in the court. Thus, the Tufanganj Sub-Divisional Sessions Court issued an arrest warrant against him.
Meanwhile, as soon as the arrest warrant was issued, Minister John Barla reached Tufanganj Sub-Divisional Sessions Court along with his lawyer, Malti Rabha Roy, MLA of Tufanganj Vidhan Sabha this morning. After this, he obtained bail on a bond of Rs. 500. After getting the bail, the Minister while addressing the reporters denied receiving any official notice. He further added that he came to know about the arrest warrant on Friday while watching the news on social media and television. There is no case being registered on the printed vote. Barla remained adamant about not violating any rules and said that he had just held a rally. He conveyed the message of fighting the matter further legally.