Fadnavis summoned for not disclosing criminal cases in poll affidavit

The summons was delivered at Fadnavis’s house in Nagpur, said an official of Sadar Police Station.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been summoned by a Nagpur court for allegedly hiding information about two criminal cases against him in his election affidavit filed before 2014 Maharashtra assembly polls.

Cases of cheating and forgery were filed against Fadnavis in 1996 and 1998, but charges were not framed in both the matters. Uke alleged that Fadnavis did not disclose this information in his election affidavits. (Satish Bate/HT Photo)

The summon was delivered at Fadnavis’s house in Nagpur on the day a new Shiv Sena-led government took office in the state.

A magistrate’s court had restored a plea for criminal proceedings against the BJP leader for alleged non-disclosure following orders of the Supreme Court.

Lawyer Satish Uke had filed the original plea in 2014 before Nagpur’s JMFC (Judicial Magistrate of First Class) court over non-disclosure of the two criminal cases in Fadnavis’ election affidavit filed before 2014 state general elections. The court had dismissed the petition in 2015.

Uke successfully challenged the decision in the Sessions court in 2016 but the Bombay High Court overturned it in 2018 on an appeal filed by Fadnavis. Uke’s subsequent challenge to the High Court decision led to the October 1 Supreme Court order, directing the JMFC court to restore the application.

The magistrate’s court on November 4 said the case would be held as a summary criminal case, and issued notice to Fadnavis under Section 125A of Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Cases of cheating and forgery were filed against Fadnavis in 1996 and 1998, but charges were not framed in both the matters. Uke claims it was mandatory for Fadnavis to disclose this information in his election affidavit but he didn’t.