Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amit Rattan Kotfatta has lodged a complaint with the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) against Deputy Commissioner (DC) Showkat Ahmad Parray for the exclusion of his name from an invitation to a district-level event organized by the Department of Agriculture in Bathinda.
The MLA has requested an FIR to be filed under relevant sections of the SC/ST Act and other IPC sections, alleging a conspiracy to harass, insult, and humiliate him in public view.
The MLA’s complaint was filed on October 25, two days after Bathinda municipal corporation began marking the land where Kotfatta’s father and retired income tax commissioner Babu Rattan is reportedly constructing a house.
The complainant states that the land being used for construction is “shamlat land” of Patti Jhutti village, and an inquiry has already been initiated by the Bathinda municipal corporation.
In his complaint, the MLA explained that he had received an invitation card on October 12 for a farmer training camp scheduled for October 14 at Kheti Bhawan on Dabwali Road in Bathinda, and the card had his name.
However, on October 13, a new set of cards was distributed in which his name was missing. This omission left him feeling “ignored and insulted.”
Sources reveal that in the initial invitation card, all six MLAs of Bathinda district, including Kotfatta, were listed. However, it is said that the invitation card reached the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), where instructions were given that officers, MLAs, or leaders who have ongoing police cases should not be invited to government programs. Following these instructions, Kotfatta’s name was removed, and a new invitation card was issued.
Kotfatta was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau on February 24 this year after his close aide Rashim Garg was caught accepting a bribe. He was released on bail on May 23.
In response to the invitation card incident, Kotfatta attempted to contact the Deputy Commissioner but received no response to his calls. DC Parray, in subsequent messages, initially attributed the omission of Kotfatta’s name to a “Minister” and later stated it was a department function over which he had no control.
The Bathinda SSP confirmed that the complaint is under investigation, while DC Parray declined to comment, stating that the complaint should be examined according to the law.
In a press statement, Kotfatta emphasized that he represents the SC community and works for their welfare, expressing his trust in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s governance.
During the October 14 event, SC MLA Master Jagsir Singh from Bhucho Mandi was present. Kotfatta did not address the complaint against the house’s construction in his father’s name.
