S Gopal Puri
DHARAMSHALA
A formal complaint has been filed against newly elected Rajya Sabha member Anurag Sharma from Himachal Pradesh, alleging concealment of property details and violation of election norms during the nomination process. The complaint was submitted to the Election Commission of India, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and the Returning Officer of Himachal Pradesh Assembly by advocate Nitasha Katoch of Dharamshala.
According to the complaint, Anurag Sharma, resident of Village Bir, Tehsil Baijnath, District Kangra, was declared elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 7, 2026. However, his election affidavit allegedly failed to disclose several land holdings in Baijnath, Multhan (Kangra) and Jogindernagar (Mandi), violating Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which mandates full disclosure of movable and immovable assets of the candidate and their family.
The complaint also points to undisclosed licensed weapon details and raises concerns under Section 9A of the Act, stating that Sharma was actively engaged as a government contractor at the time of filing his nomination, with contracts worth ₹16 crore under the Public Works Department still in progress. This could render him ineligible to contest elections due to conflict of interest.
Further, the complaint questions the haste in issuing the election certificate by the Assembly Secretariat, suggesting procedural lapses. It invokes Section 125A of the Act, which treats false or incomplete information in election affidavits as a punishable offense.
Advocate Katoch has urged authorities to conduct a fair and transparent investigation, emphasizing that electoral integrity must be upheld and legal provisions enforced without bias.
