In response to a complaint accusing Janata Dal (S) candidate Prajwal Revanna of concealing information in his affidavit, Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis has said the complainant can move the court himself.
In her response to the Chief Electoral Officer, Ms. Francis, who is also the Returning Officer of Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, said in a letter dated May 15 there was an instruction from the Election Commission that the complainant himself could move the court in cases related to false affidavit. Citing the letter issued by the EC on April 26, 2014, the DC said, “It would be no longer necessary under the Code of Criminal Procedure for the Returning Officer to move the competent court in relation to any complaint about a false affidavit. The complainant himself can be the complainant before the court as well.” The DC had sought direction from the Election Commission for further course of action on the matter.
G. Devaraje Gowda, an advocate and Congress worker, had filed a complaint with the RO alleging that the JD(S) candidate had concealed information about a commercial building (a marriage hall) he owned in Holenarsipur in the affidavit. Mr. Gowda had also alleged that Mr. Prajwal submitted wrong information on income earned from different sources and loans received.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer had asked the DC to reply to these allegations in detail before May 17. The DC, in her para-wise reply, said the allegations related to the income earned and payment of loans had to be verified by the Income Tax Department. The officer felt the need for verification or inquiry by I-T officials into eight issues cited in the complaint.
