Photo Source: ANI
Case registered against owner, managers of Prime Cinema for violation of Model Code of Conduct: Punjab CEO
-CEO office, Punjab forwards the report to ECI for further course of action
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, April 9, 2024: Taking stern action against 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.
Divulging the further information, Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said that the office of the CEO received a complaint on April 6 from an RTI Activist regarding gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct as the 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 of Punjab 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 the flying squad visited the said cinema.
Thereafter, being a matter primarily related to the display of advertisements 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 sections 188 IPC and 177 IPC, 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 the Election Commission of India by the CEO's office, Punjab for further directions of the Commission. He said that as per the reports received from the other 22 districts, no such incidences were reported from any other part of the State.