Former CM exempted from appearance in election case

Mumbai: A magistrate court in Nagpur Wednesday granted former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis exemption from personal appearance for a day in the case, where he is accused of concealing information about two criminal matters against him in an election affidavit.

A Nagpur-based lawyer Satish Uke filed an application in the magistrate court, seeking initiation of criminal proceedings against Mr Fadnavis for failing to mention the criminal cases against him in his affidavit filed before the elections.

Although advocate Uke requested the court to give an early date for the next hearing, advocate Uday Dable, representing Mr Fadnavis, told the court that the former CM was now the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and would be busy in the winter session of the Legislature commencing on December 16 in Nagpur.

He further said that in these circumstances, it would not be possible for him to attend court and requested for a date post the winter session.

The winter session of the state Legislature is scheduled to be held from December 16 to 21 in Nagpur. After hearing the arguments the judicial magistrate first class S.D. Mehta deferred hearing on the case till January 4, 2020.

In the past too, Mr Fadnavis had not appeared before the court personally and advocate Dable told the court that Mr Fadnavis could not appear before the court due to “unavoidable work” and that his intention was not to delay the trial and proceedings.

Although complainant Uke requested the court to issue a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Mr Fadnavis for failing to appear before the court, the Judge, after hearing the arguments, exempted Mr Fadnavis from personal appearance for the day.

Cases of cheating and forgery were filed against Mr Fadnavis in 1996 and 1998 but charges were not framed in both the matters. Complainant Uke alleged that Mr Fadnavis did not disclose this information in his election affidavit.