UPDATED, EXCLUSIVE
A Melton council candidate, who posted photos online of a toddler holding firearms and ammunition, has defended his actions saying the images had been “taken out of context”.
Watts ward candidate Dilpreet Singh, who has been a justice of the peace since 2010, has come under fire for posting photos of his son that were taken in India on his personal Facebook page about three years ago.
The photos have since been deleted, but Mr Singh told Star Weekly in a statement the images had been “taken out of context”.
He said while he understood why the images “could potentially” be offensive, the images were “culturally acceptable” and there was a “valid explanation for this”.
“I am from Sikh religion, which is a warrior’s religion where Sikhs have sacrificed their lives for country,” Mr Dilpreet said in a statement.
“Sikh regiment have won the highest Victoria Crosses per capita and fought in world wars, even along with Australian army while service with the British.
“So often, grandparents who serve in army create images like this to portray a token of honour, especially when the child is first-born into the next generation. This was the case in my family too.”
The justice department is now investigating Mr Singh over concerns he may have brought the JP role into “disrepute”.
“Victorian justices of the peace are required to comply with the Honorary Justices Code of Conduct,” a justice department spokeswoman said.
“The prescribed conduct includes that an honorary justice must not behave in a manner that brings the office of bail justice of justice of the peace into disrepute.”
Mr Singh said putting the images out of context and comparing it with terrorism was “an insult of tradition of my culture where there are countless examples of martyrs who lost lives to safeguard motherland”.
He said he had never condoned acts of violence, and valued his responsibility as a JP.
“It is extremely disappointing that personal images have been used to drive a political agenda in a deliberate attempt to discredit me and my culture,” Mr Singh said.
“It is shameful for someone to use such images and post them in such a way. It is an insult of those soldiers who have been fighting terrorism to defend the nation and my uncles were dreaming for my son to be a soldier one day.”
Victoria Police spokeswoman Sharyn Darcy said police had completed their investigations into Mr Singh.
“We have spoken to a 36-year-old from Hillside in relation to images that were circulated online,” Ms Darcy said. “Investigators are satisfied no offences have been committed in Victoria. The investigation has been completed.”
A state government spokesman said the photos were “deeply concerning” and had been reported to Victoria Police.
A spokeswoman for the Victorian Electoral Commission said while the VEC was responsible for conducting local government elections, it was unable to moderate the private behaviours of candidates.
“Behaviours that could be considered offensive or threatening in any way should be reported to the Victoria Police.”
A Melton council spokeswoman said it would not be making a statement as it was in caretaker mode.
