Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday issued notice to Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, directing to him respond to a petition which alleged that he had concealed information regarding the number of criminal cases pending against him.
The notice was issued by Justice Shameem Akhter who was adjudicating on an election petition filed by one Thammala Sri-nivas, an agriculturist and resident of Mamidyala village, Mulugu mandal, Siddipet seeking a direction to set aside Mr Rao’s election.
Justice Akhter also issued notices to the electoral registration officer and the returning officer for the Gajwel Assembly constituency.
Mr Damodhar Reddy, counsel for the petitioner submitted that while filing his nomination papers in Form No. 26, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao had concealed certain information regarding the number of criminal cases pending against him.
Though the total number of cases pending against him were 64, only two cases were mentioned in Form No. 26.
After filing the first affidavit stating that only two cases are pending against him, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao filed another affidavit stating that 64 cases were pending against him, which was concealment of important information from the public. This went against the provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, counsel contended.
The petitioner urged the court to set aside the election result announced for Gajwel on the grounds of that a candidate who had given false information deliberately, intentionally, whereas it was required to be given through a sworn affidavit along with nomination paper was not eligible to contest in the election.
Pointing out towards the election registration officer, the petitioner alleged that the officer allowed Mr Chandrasekhar Rao to contest the election with a malafide intention by improper acceptance of the nomination.
The court adjourned the case to four weeks for replies by the respondents.
