In a setback to Union minister and BJP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Election Commission on Tuesday directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to verify any mismatch in affidavit details submitted by him.
The poll panel move came a day after the Congress had moved the poll panel claiming a mismatch in actual and declared assets in the affidavit filed by Chandrasekhar, who is in the fray against former UN diplomat and three-time MP Shashi Tharoor.
According to procedure, the EC has directed the CBDT to verify any mismatch in affidavit details submitted by Chandrasekhar, the sources said. Any mismatch and falsification of an affidavit is dealt with under Section 125 A of the Representation of the People Act 1951.
As per the law, concealing any information in nomination papers or affidavits is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with a fine, or both.
UDF Central Election Committee chairman Thampanoor Ravi and Madhya Pradesh-based lawyer Avani Bansal have filed complaints against the nomination filed by Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The complaints lodged with the district electoral officer said Chandrasekhar misrepresented his income and assets. The complainants have sought the union minister’s disqualification.
In his complaint, Ravi said, Chandrasekhar “misrepresented his income, gross value of movable and immovable assets and the whole financial figures in his nomination papers”. His wife’s assets were also misrepresented, Ravi said.
Bansal’s complaint cited the figures of income tax returns for 2022-23 and 2021-22, Rs 5,59,200 and Rs 680 respectively. “While the income tax returns of 2021-22 shows taxable income, it is prima facie proof of the corrupt practice by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who is popularly known to be the richest MP in India,” said Bansal, who is also a Congress office-bearer.
“Rajeev Chandrasekhar has not disclosed the major holding company – Jupiter, while only disclosing shareholdings in subsidiary companies, which does not reveal the complete truth of the multi-layered company structure he has to hide his true assets,” the complaint said. She said Chandrasekhar is a “repeat offender” who filed a false affidavit in the Rajya Sabha election as well.
