Irani education controversy: Court seeks verificiation papers

A court here on Friday sought documents of verification from the Election Commission of India and Delhi University in a case related to the educational qualifications of Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani.

The minister is accused of submitting false and misleading information regarding her educational qualifications in her election affidavits.

The court's order came while observing that the complainant Ahmer Khan did not have sufficient documents to substantiate the allegations.

Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain fixed the matter for March 16, 2016 for recording statement of complainant witnesses in the case.

Khan, in last hearing, told court that Irani, in her three affidavits filed before the poll panel for Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha polls, purportedly given varying details about her educational qualifications.

Khan, in his complaint in April, sought action against the minister for allegedly lying on oath about her educational qualification.

He alleged Irani declared herself to be a 1996 batch B.A. graduate from Delhi University's School of Correspondence in her affidavit filed for the 2004 Lok Sabha election.

But in her 2014 Lok Sabha election affidavit, she stated she had done B.Com (Part I) in 1994 from Delhi University (open learning).

In another affidavit of July 11, 2011 for contesting Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat, she said her highest educational qualification was B.Com (Part I) from DU's School of Correspondence.

The petitioner claimed that Irani also lied on oath about her assets and it sought action against her for offences under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.