Plea In Bombay High Court Seeks FIR Against Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde For 'False' Info On His Children In Election Affidavit

An activist from Pune has approached the Bombay High Court seeking registration of an FIR against the minister for non-disclosure of details about his second "spouse" and two children in his affidavit filed at the time of contesting assembly elections, in 2019.

Munde made the alleged disclosure only recently, after allegations of rape surfaced, the petition claims, adding that while Munde denied the act of rape he admitted he had a son and a daughter from the complainant's sister.

Petitioner Hemant Baburao Patil, president of the Rashtriya Brashtachar Virodhi Janshakti, has alleged that this non-disclosure by Munde about his children amounts to cheating (420) under the IPC and also violates various provisions under the Representation of People Act.

"If such white collar criminals will not be prosecuted and punished according to law, there is each and every apprehension in the mind of the petitioner that they will be the hard criminals in society and they will sit in the chair and spoil our country..." the petition reads.

Patil calls Munde the "main culprit," who filed a false affidavit before the Election Commission of India, at the time of filing his nomination form in the General Assembly Elections, 2019, from Parali and, who now holds charge as Minister for the social welfare department in the state.

In his disclosure affidavit Munde has admitted to having only two children. Moreover as per his recent statements in the media, on Wednesday, Munde has claimed that his family is in the know of his relationship with the complainant's sister as well as his children.

As per the conduct of election rules 1961, candidates are required to make declarations about assets and liabilities including those of their spouse, candidate's criminal antecedents and educational qualification. Failing to do so can attract imprisonment upto six months.

Patil adds that he had first approached the Parali police station against Munde's "bogus" affidavit and later the Director General of Police (Maharashtra) and Chief Election Commissioner, New Delhi via email.

However when no response was received he was compelled to approach the Bombay High Court, Patil says.

The petitioner was contesting elections from the same constituency as Munde, he told Live Law while confirming the petition was filed on Thursday.