A day after he moved the Election Commission against BJP leader Subramanian Swamy for lodging a complaint that he had wilfully withheld his wife’s business interests, Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal said the move was “violative of the model code of conduct.”
Dr. Swamy had alleged that that one of the companies in which Mr. Sibal’s wife had a stake was an exporter of cow meat. The Law Minister said Dr. Swamy’s allegations were intended to evoke religious sentiments.
Mr. Sibal said the value of the shares held by his wife in private unlisted companies was in accordance with the law and was even disclosed in her wealth tax returns. The statement of her assets was given to the commission along with his nomination papers.
“Knowingly making a false complaint to prosecute someone is a criminal offence. I, therefore, request the Election Commission to file an FIR against Subramanian Swamy and the BJP for addressing this communication to the Election Commission,” Mr. Sibal said in his petition.
