Modi affidavit issue: Court asks police to give report by May 21

Ahmedabad: A local court expressed unhappiness over the "approach" of the police in connection with submission of report on the complaint of an AAP member who has accused Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of "hiding" his marital status in his affidavit filed for 2012 Assembly polls.

The court granted the police time until May 21 to submit the report on investigation into the complaint of Nishant Verma.

When the proceedings of the court began, officials of the concerned police station said the probe into Verma's complaint was handed over to the crime branch.

However, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate MM Sheikh expressed his dissatisfaction over the written reply and summoned Inspector of Ranip police station PD Champavat to court.

Champavat told the court that crime branch was investigating the complaint and the report should be sought from them.

However, Verma's counsel said the crime branch had informed them that they conducted a preliminary investigation and already submitted the report to the office of the Police Commissioner.

To this, the court expressed its unhappiness over the approach of the police and asked the officer to submit the report by May 21.

Verma had earlier approached Ranip police station seeking to lodge an FIR against Modi for "hiding" information on his marital status in his affidavit at the time of 2012 state Assembly elections.

Verma had also sought to name PK Jadeja, who had worked as Returning Officer at Maninanagar Assembly seat in 2012, in the FIR and appropriate action against him.

Modi had for the first time acknowledged Jashodaben as his wife when he filed mandatory affidavit, along with his nomination papers, for Vadodara Lok Sabha seat.

The acknowledgement had caused a furore, with the opposition parties trading barbs at BJP's PM nominee over the "late admission" of his relationship with Jashodaben.

In earlier Assembly elections, Modi had left the "spouse" column blank.

As the city police were seemingly not keen to entertain Verma's application seeking registration of an FIR against Modi, the AAP member approached the court.

Verma had also written to state Chief Electoral Officer Anita Karwal seeking action against the chief minister.

Verma had listed a number of IPC sections in his application against Modi for giving a false statement, false evidence under oath, for abetting a false statement or evidence and cheating or dishonestly inducing delivery of property.