Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, the National Conference (NC) candidate for the Srinagar Lok Sabha Constituency, finds himself entangled in controversy following revelations from a recent Right to Information (RTI) inquiry. The inquiry has unearthed alleged discrepancies in his birth year on official documents, raising the specter of disqualification and legal ramifications.
According to the RTI filed with the Registrar of Births and Deaths in Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi’s birth date is recorded as August 11, 1982, at Gupkar Nursing Home. However, all of his election affidavits since his first election in 2002 have stated his year of birth as 1977.
Sources familiar with the matter have expressed concerns over this inconsistency, citing a previous legal case in 2002 where his uncle, Aga Syed Mehmood, accused him of altering his birth year. Although the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence at the time, the recent RTI findings have reignited scrutiny over the matter.
Further complicating the situation, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi’s passport reportedly lists his year of birth as 1982, contradicting the information provided in his election affidavits. Allegations suggest that his birth year may have been manipulated in 2002 to facilitate his eligibility for contesting elections at a younger age.
The potential repercussions for Aga Ruhullah Mehdi loom large, including retrospective disqualification from previous terms as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and potential incarceration under Section 125-A of the Representation of People’s Act. If convicted, he could face a ban from contesting elections for up to 15 years and may be required to reimburse all previous remuneration received as an MLA.
In response to the unfolding developments, the NC leadership has purportedly nominated Salman Ali Sagar, the son of its General Secretary, as a contingency candidate for Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, signaling preparedness for any eventuality in the midst of this electoral turbulence.