Fadnavis gets notice for disclosure of criminal cases

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on a petition filed by an advocate seeking action against him for not disclosing all criminal cases pending against him in his affidavit along with his nomination papers for election as an MLA from south-west Nagpur constituency.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph sought a response from Fadnavis on a petition filed by advocate Satish Uke.

The petitioner, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal contended that Fadnavis had filed an affidavit in Form 26 on September 26, 2014, in which he concealed two pending criminal cases in which the court had already taken cognizance.

The concealment of information to the election observer and the returning officer amounted to an offence under Section 125A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, however, no action was taken despite it having been brought to the notice of the authorities, he said.

The petitioner also claimed as per the Election Commission's clarification issued on September 26, 2012, details of all pending cases in which cognizance have been taken by a court have to be disclosed, irrespective of quantum of punishment or framing of charges.

The advocate challenged the validity of an order by the Bombay High Court passed on May 3, rejecting his plea for action against Fadnavis.