New Delhi--A Delhi court on Wednesday took cognizance of the complaint filed against Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Smriti Irani. The complainant had alleged that Irani filed “false information” with the Election Commission regarding her educational qualification.
Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain on Wednesday fixed August 28 for pre-summoning evidence in the case where the complainant has alleged that prima facie offence under 125 A of Representation of People Act, 1951 is made out against Irani.
The complaint filed by freelance writer Ahmer Khan alleged that Irani, in her three affidavits filed before the EC in the Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha elections, had allegedly furnished different details about her educational qualification.
Arguing before the court, senior advocate K K Manan, counsel for Khan, had earlier stated that Irani in her affidavit for April 2004 Lok Sabha polls said that she completed her BA in 1996 from Delhi University (school of correspondence). In another affidavit for contesting the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat, she stated that her highest educational qualification was B.Com part I from the School of Correspondence, DU.
The complaint also alleges that in the affidavit filed for nomination of April 16, 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Irani said she had completed Bachelor of Commerce Part-I from School of Open Learning, DU.
INDIAN EXPRESS
