MUMBAI: A special court in Nagpur handling cases against members of Parliament (MPs), members of legislative assembly (MLAs) framed charges against Maharashtra’s leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis in a 2014 complaint against him relating to his affidavit before a returning officer at the office of the Election Commission, Napur.
When the court on Saturday, December 4, asked advocate U P Dable, for Fadnavis, what he pleads, he replied, “not guilty”.
Judicial magistrate, first class, V M Deshmukh, explaining the “particulars of offence” to the advocate of the accused, stated that Fadnavis had concealed and not mentioned, despite having knowledge, two cases in which cognisance was taken prior to filing of the affidavit on September 26, 2014.
An advocate, Satish Uke, had filed the complaint on October 20, 2014, against Fadnavis, former chief minister of Maharashtra.
The court said that the disclosure of the two cases was “mandatory” under the Representation of People Act and Conduct of Election Rule It further stated that hence Fadnavis had committed an offence punishable under section 125-A of the Representation of People Act (penalty for filing false affidavit, concealing information etc is up to six months’ imprisonment or fine or both).
The court has directed that Fadnavis be tried for the offence.
