‘Fake degree allegation frivolous’

AAP legislator Surinder Singh on Thursday denied the allegations levelled against him by BJP leader Karan Singh Tanwar about allegedly furnishing false information about his educational qualification in a poll affidavit.

Surinder Singh, the Delhi Cantonment legislator from the Aam Aadmi Party, told the Delhi high court that the allegation was “frivolous, vague and misconceived”.

Justice Hima Kohli was also informed by Surinder Singh that he completed his graduation from the Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (EIILM) University in Sikkim, but due to an inadvertent typographical mistake, the name of the university was shown incorrectly.

An affidavit filed by Surinder Singh said: “The AAP MLA submits that he has not pursued studies from Sikkim University, and perhaps due to an inadvertent typographical mistake, the name of the said university had been mentioned as Sikkim University, whereas he has pursued his studies from EIILM University, Sikkim and thus the inadvertent error.” 

Tanwar in his petition said Surinder Singh “misrepresented himself to be BA in 2012 from Sikkim University... which amounts to corrupt practice within the meaning of the Representation of the People Act”. 

He said a Right to Information (RTI) reply from Sikkim University said it did not have any record of a 

student named Surinder <g data-gr-id="20">Singh,</g> and sought the court’s directions to declare Surinder Singh’s election “void”.