Election Commission of India to Probe Affidavit Mismatch Allegations

New Delhi:  Acting on a complaint by the Congress, the Election Commission of India on Tuesday directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to verify any mismatch in affidavit submitted by Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP candidate for Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat. Chandrasekhar is in the fray against Congress MP and former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor.

The Congress had lodged a complaint with the poll body claiming a mismatch in the actual and declared assets in the affidavit filed by Chandrasekhar. The Congress in its complaint alleged that the minister has given false information pertaining to his financial status in his election affidavit “in contravention of the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1951, the Indian Penal Code and the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court”.

A Madhya Pradesh-based lawyer, Avani Bansal, too has filed a case against Chandrasekhar claiming his affidavit submitted on April 4, 2024 mentions his annual income for FY 2022 as Rs 680, which cannot be true since he declared his income as Rs 10.83 crore in FY19, Rs 17.5 lakh in FY20, and Rs 5.59 lakh in FY23.

Any mismatch and falsification of an affidavit is dealt with under Section 125A of the Representation of the People Act 1951, sources said. Under the law, concealing information in nomination papers or affidavits is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with a fine, or both.