Srinagar : An RTI filed by a Srinagar resident (a copy of which lies with this news agency) filed with Registrar of Births and Deaths, Srinagar reveals NC Lok Sabha Candidate Aga Ruhullah Mehdi was born at Gupkar Nursing Home, Srinagar on 11 August, 1982.
Aga Ruhullah has claimed that his year of birth is 1977 in all election affidavits since his first election in 2002. Interestingly he was taken to court in 2002 by his Uncle, Aga Syed Mehmood claiming he had manipulated his year of birth – also claiming that his parents got married in 1981 and his year of birth cannot be 1977. The case was disposed of at that time for lack of conclusive evidence in the absence of the now prevalent Right to Information Act.
Reports reveal his passport also carries his year of birth as 1982. His date of birth was reportedly manipulated in 2002 at the behest of National Conference enabling him to contest elections as an underage. Fake matriculation record, as per sources, was managed by then NC Education Minister Mohammad Shafi Uri at the basis of a manipulated record of schooling availed at that time from the Anjuman Shar-e-Shian run ‘Bab-ul-Ilm’ at Budgam.
While the RTI reveals that Aga Ruhullah Mehdi — a male child born at Gupkar Nursing Home, Srinagar to Sh. Aga Syed Mehdi and Smt. Rafiqa on August 11, 1982, all his election affidavits since 2002 have falsely claimed that he was born in 1977.
Incidentally, Aga Ruhullah’s parents got married in 1981 on the same day as his Uncle and Anjuman Shar-e-Shian President Aga Syed Mustafa Moosavi.
As per Section 125-A of the Representation of People’s Act, if proven that Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has intentionally attested to and provided false information in sworn legal affidavits, he faces retrospective disqualification in all his previous terms as MLA and also as an MP, if elected in due course. Section 125-A provides for the imposition of a fine, in addition to disqualification and a jail term of six months. Aga Ruhullah, if convicted, could face successive punitive terms for each affidavit that he has provided his false date of birth in.
If sources are to be believed, NC top leadership was aware of these developments and has hence fielded its youth leader and son of its General Secretary, Salman Ali Sagar as a covering candidate for Aga Ruhullah Mehdi.
If the case goes to trial and a conflict in state records fails to evolve into a conclusive result, Aga Ruhullah could also be asked to testify in the court of law personally along with family members in addition to the legally available provision of medical testing to establish age.
A conviction could also bar Aga Ruhullah Mehdi from contesting elections for a prolonged period in the future, upto a maximum term of 15 years. The prosecution could also seek a reimbursement of all cumulative renumeration and perks received by Aga Ruhullah in his previous terms as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
