Birth year controversy surrounds NC candidate Aga Ruhullah's candidature

Srinagar, Apr 26: Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, the National Conference (NC) candidate for the Srinagar Lok Sabha Constituency, finds himself embroiled in controversy following revelations from a recent Right to Information (RTI) inquiry. The inquiry has uncovered alleged manipulation of his birth year on official documents, potentially leading to disqualification and legal repercussions.

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 highlighted concerns over this discrepancy, particularly referencing 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 revived scrutiny over the issue.

It has also come to light that Aga Ruhullah Mehdi's passport lists his year of birth as 1982, contradicting the information provided in his election affidavits. Allegations suggest that his birth year may have been altered in 2002 to enable him to contest elections at a younger age.

Potential consequences for Aga Ruhullah Mehdi include retrospective disqualification from previous terms as an MLA and potential jail time 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 a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

In response to these developments, the NC leadership has reportedly nominated Salman Ali Sagar, the son of its General Secretary, as a backup candidate for Aga Ruhullah Mehdi. (KNS)