EC seeks probe against Rahul Gandhi

The Election Commission (EC) has asked the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh (UP) to probe the complaint filed against the Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for filing a false affidavit while filing nominations for the Amethi Lok sabha seat in the 2009 elections.

The complainant had alleged that Gandhi had suppressed information about his wealth.

The ECI letter directs the CEO to get the complaint probed by the returning officer of Amethi.

“Since the affidavit is filed before the retuming officer, in view of the provisions of Section 195 of cr PC, the concerned returning officer is the competent authority to consider any complaint regarding false statement in the affidavit and to take appropriate  follow up action, if the returning officer is satisfied that the affidavit contained false  statement,” the ECI letter stated. According to the complaint, Rahul Gandhi had wrongly submitted that he has no shares and debentures in the companies.

“According to the list of shareholders of the Associated Journals Ltd (owners of National Herald and Qaumi Awaz newspapers), as on September 30, 2008, submitted to Registrar of Companies, Mr Rahul Gandhi holds more than three lakh shares in the company,” the complaint stated.

These include 6,154 pref shares and 2,62,411 ordinary shares on behalf of Rameshwar Thakur and Trustees who are the authorised attorney of Janhit Trust.