The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to stay its 2019 judgment permitting the prosecution of former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for allegedly filing a false affidavit, but agreed to review its order. In his affidavit for the 2014 state elections, Fadnavis had allegedly concealed the fact that some criminal cases had been pending against him. “What if cognisance was taken in an offence yesterday and I file my poll affidavit tomorrow?” Rohatgi asked. The criminal cases against Fadnavis related to cheating and forgery, for which the maximum sentence is seven years’ jail. The cases had been filed between1996 and 1998, but they are at the cognisance stage as no charges have been framed.

Source: The Telegraph February 18, 2020 21:00 UTC