The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued notices to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Karnataka PCC chief G Parameshwara on a petition seeking curbs on collection of funds from ticket aspirants.
A Bench of Justice S Abdul Nazeer also issued notices to the Election Commission of India (EC) and Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka in relation to plea by V Shashidhar, who claims to be a Congressman and president of Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasangha.
Though the EC counsel said the matter was an intra-party affair, the judge said it was a serious issue.
According to the petition, the Congress collected Rs 10,000 each from party ticket aspirants and raised more than Rs 2 crore from 2,500 aspirants like him. Shashidhar sought directions to formulate proper guidelines to prevent this.
He also sought the court direct the EC to consider the representation sent by him on April 3 for a CBI or Special Investigation Team probe against Gandhi and Parameshwara. “The party constitution does not provide for collection of party funds from its members for the Assembly elections... It may lead to money-laundering by parties,” Shashidhar had said.
Shashidhar said that a survey suggests black money of Rs 6,000-7,000 crore may be involved in the coming elections. On the notices served, Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath said, “There is no legislation to check it but we will take appropriate actions as per law.”
Meanwhile, EC reviewed arrangements in Bangalore for the May 5 Assembly elections, interacting with political parties and hearing their grievances.