Court to hear complaint against Smriti Irani over education qualification

New Delhi, Apr 16: A Delhi court will hear on April 25 a private complaint filed against Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani for allegedly giving "false" information about her educational qualification in her affidavits filed with the Election Commission of India.

The petition came up before Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain who fixed it for hearing on April 25.

The complaint filed by Ahmer Khan, a freelancer, alleged that in an April 2004 affidavit filed by Irani for the Lok Sabha elections, it was stated that she has completed her BA in 1996 from Delhi University (school of correspondence).

It claimed that in another affidavit of July 11, 2011 by Irani for election on Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat, it was stated that her highest educational qualification was B.Com part I from the School of Correspondence, DU.

The complainant alleged that in another affidavit of April 16, 2014 filed by her for the Lok Sabha polls, it was said that she was a Bachelor of Commerce Part-I from the School of Open Learning, DU.

"It is evident from the contents of the affidavits filed by Smriti Z Irani that at best, only one of the depositions by her on oath in respect of her educational qualifications is correct," the plea claimed.

It alleged that she had given "false information" about her educational qualifications in the affidavits.

It further said, "the aforesaid affidavits of Smriti Z Irani, apart from the ostensibly false and discrepant statements in respect of her educational qualifications, also appear to contain false/ discrepant statements in respect of immovable properties owned by her, and other details set out by her."

"The aforesaid facts and circumstances reveal commission of offences by the accused under section 125A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, besides any other offences that may attract other penal provisions as an outcome of an additional investigation," the plea said.

It requested the court to take cognisance of the offences alleged in the plea and summon Irani for trial.

PTI