The Delhi high court has ordered examination of documentary evidence against the Congress MLA from Model Town, Kanwar Karan Singh, in connection with a petition challenging his election in 2008 Assembly polls.
Justice Rewa Khetrapal passed the order after hearing a petition from BJP candidate, Bhola Nath Vij, who sought to prove that Singh, while filing his nomination papers, had allegedly concealed vital information which needed to be disclosed.
Challenging Mr Singh’s election, Mr Vij has filed the election petition through his counsel H.S. Phoolka, alleging that he had failed to clear dues of various departments, including property tax and had concealed these facts in his nomination papers.
While dismissing Mr Singh’s objections, Justice Khetrapal said, “It stands to reason that whenever a proper disclosure is not made in the nomination paper on affidavit, it is bound to result in affecting the purity of the election process.”
“Precisely, how it is affected and to what extent, will depend upon the defence taken by the returned candidate and the evidence brought on record during the trial process,” the court said.
“I do not find any substance in the (Singh’s) contention for the reason that what is averred in the election petition is that material concealment of the facts by the returned candidate has materially affected the election of the petitioner (Vij),” she said. The court will begin recording of evidence against Mr Singh from January 17.