Case registered against owner and managers of Prime Cinema for violation of Model code of Conduct: Punjab CEO

Chandigarh, April 9:  Taking stern action of the violation of the Model Code of Conduct, the Punjab Police have registered a case against the owner and managers of Prime Cinema and against the in-charge of the Qube Cinema, on the recommendations of the MCMC committee Patiala.

Further information was disclosed by Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C, who stated that the CEO’s office had received a complaint on April 6 from an RTI activist concerning gross violations of the Model Code of Conduct. Promotional video ads, featuring the Punjab government logo and the Chief Minister’s appearance, are being played in cinemas across the state.

Taking immediate cognizance of the complaint, CEO Punjab had sought report from Deputy Commissioner Patiala, whose jurisdiction Prime Cinema, Rajpura (Patiala) falls, Secretary Public Relation Department, Government of Punjab, who issues Releasing Order (RO) for all Punjab Government advertisements to various agencies and also from all Deputy Commissioners cum DEOs in the state of Punjab to ascertain the status of display of such Government advertisements in any of the Cinema across the State.

The CEO said that following this a notice was issued to Paramjit Singh, Manager Prime Cinemas, Rajpura on April 6 by RO 113- Ghanour/ARO 13- Patiala PC and flying squad visited the said cinema.  Thereafter, being a matter primarily related with the display of advertisement in cinema, the case was put up to MCMC Patiala (Media Certification and Monitoring Committee).

As per the recommendations of the MCMC committee Patiala, the Patiala police on April 8 under section 188 IPC and 177 IPC has been lodged against the owner and managers of Prime Cinema and under section 188 IPC against the representatives/manager/person in-charge of the Qube Cinema.

The CEO said that a report was sent to Election Commission of India by CEO office, Punjab for further directions of the Commission. He said that as per the reports received from other 22 districts, no such incidences were reported from any other part of the State.