Irani gave false information in her poll affidavits, court told

New Delhi, Aug 28:

Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani has given false and misleading information regarding her educational qualifications in her election affidavits, a Delhi court heard on Friday.

Ahmer Khan, who filed a complaint against the minister, told the court that Irani has given false, misleading facts in her affidavits filed before the election commission.

He was testifying as a complainant witness in the case.

Khan told Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain that he filed the complaint after thorough research.

He added that Irani did not give any clarification regarding her educational qualifications after the issue came before the media.

The court listed the matter for further examination of Khan for November 20, observing that the complainant at present was not having sufficient documents to substantiate the allegations.

The court asked Khan to come with documents to substantiate his allegations on the next date of hearing.

The court was hearing a private complaint against Irani for allegedly misrepresenting facts in her election affidavits.

The court has observed that the discrepancies in the affidavits of Irani came to the knowledge of the complainant firstly in May 2014 when media reports on her educational qualifications first appeared.

Khan alleged that Irani, in her three affidavits filed before the poll panel for Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha polls, has purportedly given different details about her educational qualifications.

Khan, in his complaint in April, sought action against the minister for allegedly lying on oath about her educational qualifications.

He alleged that Irani has declared herself to be a 1996 batch B.A. graduate from Delhi University’s School of Correspondence in her affidavit filed for the 2004 Lok Sabha election.

But in her 2014 Lok Sabha election affidavit, she stated she had done B.Com Part 1 in 1994 from Delhi University (open learning).

In another affidavit of July 11, 2011 for contesting Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat, she said her highest educational qualification was B.Com part I from DU’s School of Correspondence.

The petition claimed that Irani also lied on oath about her assets and it sought action against her for offences under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. (IANS)