Jodhpur: Rajasthan High Court Tuesday disposed of a habeas corpus petition after Vijay Kumar, a newly elected councillor allegedly abducted while heading to vote in the Srivijaynagar municipal chairperson election in Sriganganagar, was traced and cast his vote within the extended polling deadline a day earlier.The stay on declaration of the election result of Srivijaynagar municipal body will, however, continue, with high court set to hear another petition related to the civic body on Sept 28.The habeas corpus petition was filed by Kumar’s wife Shashi before a division bench of Justice Nupur Bhati and Justice Baljinder Singh Sandhu. The govt counsel told the court that Kumar had been recovered and had exercised his franchise in time, following which the bench disposed of the plea.According to the petition, Kumar was abducted at gunpoint Monday morning near Bajuwala, about 10 km from Srivijaynagar, while travelling with other newly elected councillors to vote in the chairperson election. The petition alleged that unknown persons opened fire at the councillors and forcibly abducted three of them.Kumar was untraceable at the time and his mobile phone was switched off. Polling, originally scheduled from 10 am to 2 pm Monday, was extended by the Returning Officer till 5 pm following the alleged abduction and high court’s intervention.High court had taken up the matter urgently Monday despite it being a state holiday on account of Baba Ramdev Jayanti, after Chief Justice directed an urgent hearing.During Monday’s proceedings, Sriganganagar SP told the court that an FIR had been registered and that two other abducted councillors, Mangatram and Pyarelal, had been traced and had cast their votes. The court had directed the SP to trace Kumar by 4 pm and ensure he got an opportunity to vote.The second petition was submitted by Congress candidate Sushil Midha before the single bench of Justice Nupur Bhati, alleging abduction of the three councillors Monday, just ahead of the elections for the Srivijaynagar municipal chairperson. After hearing the plea, the bench had ordered that the election results will be subject to final outcome of the petition and had listed the matter for Sept 28.
