The Supreme Court Friday said it was of the prima facie view that BSP chief Mayawati should reimburse public money that was spent on installing statues of herself and elephants, the party’s symbol, in Lucknow and Noida. The remarks were made by a bench hearing a petition filed by an advocate who had contended that public money cannot be utilised for building own statues and for propagating a political party. “We are of the tentative view that Mayawati has to deposit the public money spent on her statues and party symbol to the state exchequer,” the bench also comprising of justices Deepka Gupta and Sanjeev Khanna said. The bench made it clear the tentative view was expressed by it as the matter will take some time for hearing. Acting on the complaint, the ED filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to investigate the matter.

Source: Indian Express February 08, 2019 07:14 UTC