Bombay HC sets aside summons to Ajit Pawar in cooperative election case

The Bombay High Court today set aside an order directing Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, to appear before a lower court to answer the charges of corrupt practises during election at a cooperative sugar factory.

A division bench of Justice DK Deshmukh and Justice Anoop Mohata quashed the order of a single judge of high court.

The matter pertained to Malegaon sugar factory in Baramati district, which conducted election for the board of directors three years ago.

During the campaign, Pawar had given a speech and the panel backed by him eventually won.

The election was challenged by the defeated panel by filing an election petition which is still pending before the Revenue Commissioner. The petition takes objection to Pawar's speech, among other things.

Petitioners filed an application before the commissioner, seeking permission to produce CD of Ajit Pawar's speech. They also demanded that Ajit be summoned as a witness.

The application was rejected by the revenue commissioner, against which the defeated candidates moved the high court. A single judge, on November 28, allowed production of speech CD, and the summons to Pawar.

The elected candidates, represented by advocate Ashutosh Kumbhkoni, then filed an appeal before the division bench of the high court which today quashed the order of the single judge.