Sangma's plea ill-conceived, Pranab tells SC

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Describing as ill-conceived a petition challenging his election as president, Pranab Mukherjee has told the Supreme Court that at the time of filing his nomination papers he held no office of profit.

In his recent preliminary objections filed against a petition by his opponent in the presidential election P.A. Sangma, Mukherjee said that he gave up the honorary position as chairman of the Kolkota-based Indian Statistical Institute June 20.

He sought the dismissal of Sangma's petition, describing it ill-conceived and baseless.

Sangma's petition seeking to set aside Mukherjee's election as president would be taken up for hearing by the constitution bench of the court Thursday.

Sangma moved the apex court Aug 21 contending that Mukherjee held an office of profit when he filed his nomination papers.