Mangalore: A local court on Monday September 8, sentenced former Mangalore Mayor and incumbent corporater Abdul Aziz to two months imprisonment and imposed on him a fine of Rs. 10,000 for violating the poll code.

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In 2008, Aziz was found guilty of using his vehicle for campaigning in support of congress party candidate Ivan D’Souza. In fact, Aziz is now in the JD(S) party.

According to the charge sheet,  Aziz used his car for an Assembly election campaign in a labour colony in Padau in Mangalore Rural Police limits on May 6, 2008. However, his car was not among the vehicles permitted for use during campaigning by the Election Commission.

Accordingly, a complaint was filed by Assistant Returning Officer Praveen Chandra Karkera. The case was investigated by sub-inspector Bharati.

According to the confirmed reports, the III Judicial Magistrate First Class Court Magistrate, Undi Manjula Shivappa, also went through the video-footage of the process of seizure of campaign material that were found in Mr. Aziz’s car. Among those seized were pamphlets of  D’Souza’s campaign and also copies of the Congress manifesto.

The Magistrate convicted Aziz under the provisions of Representation of People Act. If Aziz fails to pay fine amount, he will undergo further imprisonment of one month. Assistant Public Prosecutor B. Mohan Kumar examined five government employees, a police head constable and a videographer as witnesses in the case.

Aziz is said to file an appeal against the judgment before the Sessions Court on Tuesday and also seek a stay order against the lower court’s order. Aziz said that he had not used his car for campaigning.