Tough questions greeted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Supreme Court over two pending criminal cases that he failed to mention in his election affidavit of 2014. Five years down the line and the case still raising its ugly head, Fadnavis argued that the non-disclosure, at best, could lead to rejection of his nomination but not a criminal offence. After elections got over, a Mumbai-based lawyer Satish Ukey alleged that Fadnavis concealed information about two criminal cases were a trial judge had taken cognizsnce. 231 of 1996 (Madanlal Parate v Devendra Fadnavis) involving an offence under criminal defamation. Will it amount to a criminal offence if he misses out on two, he said, adding that at best, it could lead to rejection of nomination but not a criminal offence.

Source: dna July 24, 2019 00:05 UTC