SC drops writ against Sonia Gandhi's false affidavit

New Delhi, May 18: The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition filed by Janata Party President and former union minister Subramanian Swamy seeking prosecution of Congress President Sonia Gandhi for filing false affidavit before the returning officer, Rai Bareilly, regarding her educational qualification.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices B P Singh and G P Mathur upheld the Allahabad High Court judgement which had dismissed writ petition on the grounds that the petitioner had no locus standi to file the petition as he was not the voter of the constituency.

Earlier, Mr Swamy appearing in person alleged that Sonia Gandhi had filed an affidavit stating she had degree in language from Cambridge University but the name of the University was dropped in the subsequent affidavit filed during byelections to Lok Sabha seat from Rai Bareilly.

He also contended that he went to the district magistrate but he was told that there was no returning officer as the elections were already over and he should have lodged this complaint between the date of filing of false affidavit till the polling was held on May 8, 2006.

Sonia Gandhi had resigned her Lok Sabha seat on the office of profit issue as she was Chairperson of National Advisory Council.

She contested the byelection from the same constituency.

She was re-elected.

UNI