EC may frame charges against Ashok Chavan in paid news case

New Delhi, May 22: The

(EC) is likely to frame charges against former Maharashtra Chief Minister

tomorrow in connection with the alleged 'paid news' and furnishing of "incorrection" election accounts case against him.

Chavan, who recently won the Lok Sabha polls on a Congress ticket from Nanded, will be represented by a team of lawyers after he informed the EC that his "authorised" counsel will appear before the poll body in response to its summons issued to him last week.

"Chavan has asked for framing of charges in this case by the EC against him. The Commission will conduct a hearing in this regard tomorrow in the presence of the former CM's lawyers," sources privy to the development said. A similar case of furnishing allegedly false election accounts by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda has been postponed till May 26, the sources said.

The EC, on the directions of the Supreme Court, had issued a notice to Chavan last week to appear before it in connection with the case of alleged expenses made by him during the 2009 polls which were categorised as "paid news".

Chavan has asked for framing of charges in this case by the EC against him

The apex court had, in its earlier order, given a free hand to the Commission to inquire into complaints of 'paid news' or incorrect expenses against a political leader. A bench headed by Justice A K Patnaik had dismissed the plea of Chavan challenging the Commission's jurisdiction to inquire into such issues.

The apex court had directed the Commission to inquire into the complaint against Chavan within 45 days. The EC, post complaints made against the two political leaders, had initiated disqualification procedures against them under the Representation of the People Act.

Both the leaders had challenged the EC's action as they denied any wrongdoing.

PTI