Date:01/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/01/stories/2007070150490600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

EC to contest dismissal of YSR land case

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Election Commission will move a sessions court against the summary dismissal of a complaint preferred by the returning officer of the Pulivendula constituency against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy that he filed a false affidavit on his assets during the 2004 poll.

As per the decision taken by the Commission last week, the Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh will take steps to file the appeal on getting a copy of the certified order.

Concealment of fact

Following a complaint from Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Commission took cognisance of suppression of ownership of 11 acres of land in the affidavit Mr. Reddy filed on March 31, 2004. Mr. Naidu preferred the complaint after the Chief Minister admitted in the Assembly that he owned the particular piece of land. The controversy rocked the House.

The Commission after an inquiry found that the complaint was correct and directed the returning officer to file before a magistrate court a case under Section 177 of the Indian Penal Code (filing of false information for which the punishment is six-month imprisonment).

The magistrate, however, summarily dismissed the complaint recently. The Commission, therefore, decided to ask the Chief Electoral Officer to direct the returning officer to file an appeal.