The Punjab Police have taken strict action for the violation of the Model Code of Conduct, registering a case against the owner and managers of Prime Cinema and the in-charge of Qube Cinema based on the recommendations of the MCMC Committee Patiala.
Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C provided further details, stating that the office received a complaint on April 6 from an RTI activist regarding a significant breach of the Model Code of Conduct. The complaint highlighted the playing of promotional video ads in cinemas across the state featuring the Punjab government logo and the Chief Minister’s appearance.
In response to the complaint, the CEO Punjab promptly sought reports from relevant authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner Patiala and the Secretary of the Public Relation Department, Government of Punjab. This was to determine the status of such Government advertisements in cinemas across the state.
Following this, a notice was issued to Paramjit Singh, Manager of Prime Cinemas in Rajpura, on April 6, and a flying squad visited the cinema. Subsequently, as the matter pertained primarily to the display of advertisements in cinemas, it was referred to the MCMC Patiala (Media Certification and Monitoring Committee).
Based on the MCMC Patiala’s recommendations, the Patiala police filed a complaint on April 8 under sections 188 and 177 of the IPC against the owner and managers of the cinema, and under section 188 of the IPC against the representatives, manager, and person in-charge of the Cinema.
The CEO office, Punjab, sent a report to the Election Commission of India for further instructions.
The CEO noted that, according to reports from the other 22 districts, no similar incidents were reported from any other part of the state.