Sharad Pawar
A local court in Navi Mumbai has decided to conduct an inquiry by itself into the alleged remark made by Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar asking people to remove ink from their finger and vote twice.
A magistrate, presiding over the court situated at APMC in Navi Mumbai, observed that this court would conduct an inquiry into the matter as authorised by law under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The judge also noted that the reason behind this decision was that as per his view the investigation done by the concerned police was not fair.
The court is hearing a private complaint filed by Chandulal Mulani in April. In the complaint, apart from Mr Pawar, the EC has also been made a respondent. Mr Mulani’s lawyer Ashish Giri has termed the decision apt.
He said, “We have full faith in a court conducted inquiry.” He also added that other agencies could be prejudicial in their investigation. Advocate Giri also informed that the order was passed on August 27, but the certified copy of the order was made available on Monday.
Mr Pawar on March 24 was addressing a convention of Mathadi Kamgars, where in his speech he allegedly advised them to first vote in their home town Satara and since the polling date in Mumbai was after that they should come back, wipe out the ink from their finger and vote again.
The complainant has said that this act was against the integrity of the country and also violates the Election Commission guidelines, thus affecting the general public in large.