Hearing into paid news complaint against Chavan inconclusive

A poll panel hearing into a complaint concerning 'paid news', allegedly involving Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, remained inconclusive today.

A poll panel hearing into a complaint concerning 'paid news', allegedly involving Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, remained inconclusive on Friday.

HT Image

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Abhishek Singhvi appeared for Chavan in the hearing which would now continue on July 20, Election Commission sources said.

Chavan is understood to have denied placing any advertisement in newspapers in the run-up to the elections.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and two lawyers for the party made submissions before the full Commission.

Chavan's counsel is expected to make submissions before the poll panel during the next hearing.

The Commission had served a notice to the Chief Minister on allegations of placing advertisements that were passed off as news items before the Maharashtra assembly polls last year.

EC had also sent to Chavan copies of complaint, including several CDs and press clippings that BJP had given to the Commission. BJP had alleged that Chavan had overspent in his election campaign and misrepresented facts about the expenses.