The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a plea by the State’s Water Resources Minister Narottam Mishra questioning the Election Commission’s competence to inquire into a case of “paid news” against him dating back to 2008.
The dismissal of Mr. Mishra’s plea by Justice Vinod Agrawal of the Gwalior bench of the high court means that the Election Commission will continue its inquiry into the charges against the minister who belongs to the BJP and represents Datia constituency in the assembly.
An adverse ruling by the Election Commission could imperil Mr. Mishra’s membership of the legislative assembly. He could also be disqualified from standing in elections for six years.
The complainant in the case is Congress leader Rajendra Bharti whose counsel told said: “The Election Commission continues to hold hearings of the case and the defendant’s witnesses have been deposing before it.”
Ms. Bharti complained to the Election Commission in 2012 that Mr. Mishra paid for a series of “news” reports published in various newspapers ahead of the 2008 State Assembly elections to enhance his prestige among voters without accounting for that expense.
The Election Commission issued a show-cause notice to Mr. Mishra in 2013 that said: “42 news, which were published in various newspapers between November 8 and 27 in 2008, appear to be advertisements in garb of news.” - IANS
