Akela
PRAVIN Wategaonkar, a social activist has been filed on Thursday a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court demanding elections to be held in Satara, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai on the same day over “ink” and “double (bogus) vote” remark made by NCP chief and Union Minister Sharad Pawar. Elections in Satara are scheduled on April 17 and in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai on April 24.
While addressing to his voters (Mathadi Workers) in APMC Market in Navi Mumbai on March 23 Pawar had asked them to take advantage of the multi-phase polling in the state by voting twice, first in their hometowns and then at places of work. He also suggested removing the indelible ink immediate after voting in Satara.
A division bench of Justices A S Oka and Amjad Sayed which has posted it for hearing tomorrow. Meanwhile, a social worker has been also filed a criminal case against Pawar in Mazgaon court for making such a statement. The matter is expecting to come up for hearing on April 15.
Petitioner demands that Pawar should be booked for IPC offences such as section 171D (personation at elections) r/w 171F (punishment for undue influence or personation at elections), section 116 (abetment of offence), section 153-B (punishment for imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505 (b) (statement made with intent to cause or likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public). He may also be booked under section 8 and 11A of the Representation of the People’s Act.