M Prithviraj case : HC closes deposition
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 19 2016 :
A single bench of Justice N Kotishwar of Manipur High Court today closed deposition of witnesses regarding the election petition filed by retired IAS officer P Saratchandra against YAS and Tourism Parliamentary Secretary and Moirang AC MLA M Prithviraj.
Further proceedings of the argument hearing of the case will be held on February 22 .
Ch Bimolchandra, who prepared the election affidavit of M Prithviraj submitted his statement as a respondent witness of the case today.
His statement was cross examined by the petitioner's counsel.
Altogether, two witnesses from the petitioner's side and three from respondent's side have appeared before the Court so far.
The election petition case was filed by P Saratchandra against M Prithviraj who was elected in the last State Assembly election on Congress ticket from Moirang AC in 2012 .
The election petition alleged that M Prithviraj submitted fake educational certificate to the Returning Officer by wrongfully mentioning his educational qualification in the election affidavits submitted for the State Assembly election.
The election petition alleged that M Prithviraj mentioned that he is an MBA degree holder of Mysore University in his election affidavits of the by-election held in 2009 and State Assembly election held in 2012 .
It was also complained in the petition that the official website of the State Legislative Assembly is still showing M Prithviraj's educational qualification as MBA (Human Resource) .
P Saratchandra filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court after the case was adjourned in the High Court of Manipur for a long time.
Later, the apex Court issued a notice to M Prithviraj returnable within four weeks.
Some months back, the Supreme Court also directed the High Court of Manipur to dispose the election petition case before February this year.
It may also be mentioned that Registrar of Mysore University had confirmed that M Prithviraj neither studied MBA nor got MBA degree from the varsity.