Court to hear on May 1 plea against Gautam Gambhir for allegedly having two voter IDs

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

A court Friday said it will hear on May 1 a criminal complaint filed by leader Atishi against former and BJP candidate Gautam for allegedly enrolling as a voter in more than one constituency in violation of the Representation of the People Act (RPA).

The complaint has alleged that Gambhir, the East BJP candidate, has enrolled "deliberately" and "illegally" as voter in at least two separate constituencies here -- and

The plea, filed by on Thursday, further alleged that has provided false information in his nomination papers, accompanying affidavit and other documents preceding voter screening and registration in order to be seen as qualified to contest elections and potentially secure a membership of the Parliament.

Complainant Atishi, who is the candidate from the same constituency, has said in the complaint that the details of Gambhir's registration in the constituencies were available online on the Election Commission's National Voters' Service Portal.

The complaint has sought directions to the police to investigate offences under sections 17 and 31 of the RPA, 1950, and section 125A (penalty for filing false affidavit) of RPA, 1951.

Section 17 of the RPA, provides that no person is entitled to be enrolled as a voter in more than one constituency and its violation was a criminal offence punishable with maximum of one year imprisonment.

Section 31 of the Act makes false declaration in the matter of inclusion or exclusion of voter rolls punishable with up to one year in prison.

"It is clear that the has made and continues to provide false information/statements/ declarations to the relevant authorities like the of India in order to obtain and retain enrolments as a voter in two constituencies" the complaint alleged.

Both Atishi and Gambhir filed earlier this week their nominations papers for the elections on May 12.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, April 26 2019. 18:35 IST