HC grants Suvendu more time to file reply in Mamata’s poll plea
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari further time until October 1 to file a written statement in an election petition by his predecessor Mamata Banerjee challenging his victory from Bhabanipur Assembly constituency.
Banerjee moved the election petition in June alleging corrupt practices, illegal deletion of voters from the electoral roll and irregularities in the counting process.
Justice Gaurang Kanth extended the time for Adhikari to file the written statement until October 1.
The chief minister, who was declared winner in Bhabanipur seat by over 15,000 votes, moved an application seeking three days’ leave to file a written statement in the election petition by Banerjee. Adhikari’s counsel stated before the court that the copy of the election petition was received on July 3.
After the initial period for filing the written statement expired in the first week of August, Justice Kanth had, on August 4, granted a further four weeks to file a written statement, which expired on September 1.
The court noted that the written statement could not be filed within the said period. Adhikari’s counsel submitted that the delay was due to conferences which were required to be held with the applicant’s representatives.
The court said it is satisfied that Adhikari has shown sufficient reasons for not filing the written statement within the time granted earlier.
Extending the time to file the written statement till October 1, Justice Kanth directed the high court’s concerned department to receive it.
The court had on June 23 ordered the Election Commission to preserve and keep in safe custody CCTV footage at the counting centre at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur, and EVMs and VVPAT machines used in the polling for the constituency.
Justice Kanth had directed that these will not be erased, overwritten, destroyed, tampered with, transferred, re-deployed, opened or otherwise dealt with in any manner whatsoever without the leave of this court.
