The Supreme Court today has issued a notice to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis for “not disclosing” criminal cases against him in his 2014 election affidavit.
This move came in wake of a PIL by lawyer Satish Ukey, which sought disqualification of Fadnavis as a legislator over “non-disclosure” of the criminal cases pending against him.
The criminal cases against Fadnavis are of “cheating” and “defamation”.
A CJI Ranjan Gogoi-led bench comprising of Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph has sought response from Fadnavis.
The PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court which earlier rejected it.
Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the petitioner presented his argument by saying, “Mr.Fadnavis didn’t “disclose details of the” pending cases and “as per law he had to disclose cases taken cognizance by a court.”
Reply from the Chief Minister’s Office(CMO)
Maharashtra CMO issued a statement, “An appropriate response will be filed to the notice.”
CMO further claimed,” Mr. Fadnavis had filed all details about cases against him in the election affidavit in 2014. The petitioner had moved the High Court which dismissed the case calling it baseless.”
Background of the PIL
Lawyer Satish Ukey had filed a petition in the court of Judicial Magistrate in Nagpur in September 2015. He challenged the election of Fadnavis but the PIL was rejected.
He then moved the Sessions Court, which in turn directed the Magistrate to reconsider the decision.
Fadnavis went to the Bombay High Court for challenging the Sessions Court order.
In return, Ukey then challenged the High Court’s decision in the apex Court.