Morbi (Gujarat) Feb 12 (IANS) The Gujarat Assembly s newly appointed Pro Tem Speaker and veteran BJP MLA Nimaben Acharya and two others were on Monday sentenced to one-year in jail in a 2009 case pertaining to violation of the election code of conduct.
A Morbi Nagistrate s court pronounced the order while granting the convicts -- including a former legislator and another person -- an opportunity to challenge the order within 30 days.
Acharya a legislator from Bhuj in Kutch district former BJP MLA Kanti Amrutia and Manoj Panara convenor of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti were also fined Rs 2 000 each.
The case refers to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls in Morbi constituency of Saurashtra region when Nimaben Amrutia and Panara were campaigning. Amrutia is a former MLA from Morbi.
"No evidence of our involvement has been put before the court. We are not happy with the judgment... We will approach a higher court against the ruling " Acharya told reporters.
He said "all the requisite permissions had been obtained during campaigning and that the case was politically motivated".
--IANS
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