Criminal case likely against Jaya Bachchan in 2006 RS bypoll case

Lucknow, Jun 24 (UNI) A criminal case is likely to be registered against Bollywood actress and Samajwadi Party (SP) Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan for hiding facts in her affidavit filed in the Rajya Sabha byelection held in June 2006, official sources said today.

After being disqualified as a Rajya Sabha (RS) member in 2006 for holding an office of profit, Ms Bachchan could again be trapped in a legal battle for concealing facts in an affidavit filed during RS byelection in 2006.

An FIR against Ms Bachchan is likely to be lodged on behalf of Principal Secretary, Vidhan Sabha, R P Pandey, who was the Returning Officer of the bypoll, the sources said.

Mr Pandey had asked Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lucknow, Akhil Kumar, to register a case against Ms Bachchan for concealing facts about two pieces of land in Barabanki in the name of her husband Amitabh Bachchan in the affidavit.

However, the Lucknow SSP said here that he will take legal opinion before registering the case against Ms Bachchan. The SSP said that he received the letter of Mr R P Pandey, who asked him to file the case.

As the matter involves political fallouts, the state police was going slow and considering all pros and cons in the matter.

Mr Pandey took action on the directives of the Election Commission on a petition filed by one Amir Haidar of Barabanki.

Earlier, on March 16, 2006, Samajwadi Party's RS MP Jaya Bachchan was disqualified on the grounds of holding an office of profit as the Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council.

A petition was also filed by Congress leader Madan Mohan Shukla, who had charged Ms Bachchan of violating the norms and the Election Commission disqualified her under sub-clause (a) of Clause 1 of Article 102 of the Constitution.

Even during the election process, Mr Shukla had filed a petition against her seeking disqualification of her candidature for being the Chairperson of the UP Film Development Council. But she resigned from the post and was re-appointed after her election. Later, the SP made her the candidate in the June 2006 by-election to fill her seat after the disqualification, where she was elected unopposed.

Mr Amir Haider, also a district Congress leader, told UNI that his charges have been vindicated as a case was might soon be registered against Ms Bachchan.

He said Jaya had not disclosed the two pieces of land, which were purchased in May, 2006, which tantamounts to concealing facts and is, therefore, punishable under the law.

''I am ready to fight the legal battle against the Bollywood star for her wrong doings,'' he announced, while thanking the Election Commission and others who had supported him in the fight.

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