[2024 General Elections] Plea In Kerala HC Alleges Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar Filed False Affidavit, Suppressed Financial Assets While Filing Nomination

Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar is the official BJP candidate contesting for the 2024 General Elections from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency.

The public interest litigation was moved by Congress leader Avani Bansal alleging Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar had filed a false affidavit contrary to the Representation of People's Act 1951, Conduct of Election Rules 1961 and Compendium of the ECI. It is alleged that the Minister has deliberately suppressed his financial assets and has not declared significant assets such as his house, luxury cars, private jets, real estate assets, and company shares and has misrepresented his financial status in the affidavit filed along with the nomination paper.

It is alleged that no action has been taken by the Election Officer and the Chief Electoral Officer even after prime facie evidence was given against Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar regarding the filing of a false affidavit along with the nomination paper.

The plea alleges that the Returning Officer is duty-bound to give a speaking order against the complaint raised against Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar regarding the filing of the false affidavit. It was alleged that the status of the complaint on the website of the Election Commission of India merely shows admitted without giving a written reasoned response to the complaint.

Thus, the plea has been moved before the Court seeking a direction against the Election Officer to pass a reasoned order on the complaint filed by the petitioners regarding the filing of the false affidavit by Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar. 

The plea has been moved by Senior Advocate George Poonthottam, Advocates Nisha George, A L Navneeth Krishnan, Reginald Valsalan, Namita Philson, Anshin K K and Sidharth R Wariyar

Case Title: Avani Bansal v The Election Commission of India

Case Number: WP(C) 16410/2024