Toronto:
Three Canadians of Indian origin have been charged with poll malpractices linked to last year's election campaign of former Indo-Canadian Minister in British Columbia government Kash Heed.
The British Columbia province has one of the largest concentrations of Indian Canadians.
A total of 12 charges have been laid against the three Indo-Canadians in connection with an illegal pamphlet that circulated in former solicitor general Heeds Vancouver-Fraser View Riding days before last year's election.
Heed's campaign manager Barinder Sall is facing three criminal charges - including two counts of obstruction of justice - and three charges under the Election Act.
Dinesh Khanna, whose printing company, North American Mailing Service Ltd. produced the pamphlets, faces two criminal charges for obstruction of justice and three Election Act charges.
Satpal Johl, financial officer for the campaign, is also facing one count under the Election Act related to improper recording of campaign finances.
Though investigators exonerated Heed, the Vancouver provincial court on Monday charged the three Indian Canadians - Sall, Johl and Khanna - with 12 violations under the Canadian Criminal Code and the Election Act.