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Contempt plea in SC against Cong candidate for allegedly not publicising criminal cases

New Delhi: A plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday for initiation of contempt proceedings against a Congress party candidate in Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, alleging that he did not make the electorate aware about the criminal cases against him as mandated by the apex court.

A five-judge Constitution bench had, on September 25, issued a slew of directions to ensure de-criminalisation of politics including asking the candidates and their parties to widely publicise through media their criminal antecedents, if any.

Alleging violations, a contempt plea has been filed by NGO 'Public Interest Foundation' against Arunodaya Chaubey alias Annu Bhaiya, the Congress candidate from Khuraia assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, which will go to polls on November 28.

The fresh plea, filed through lawyers Ashwini Upadhyay and Ashwani Kumar Dubey, has also made Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat and other election officers of the state as parties.

"That by ignoring the direction issued by this court on September 25, 2018, the alleged contemnors O P Rawat, V L Kantharao, Alok Singh, Vikas Singh and Arunoday Chaubey have committed contempt for which they are liable to be proceeded and punished according to law," it said.

The petition alleged that criminal cases for offences of attempt to murder and assault under the IPC are pending against Chaubey and these have not been publicised as directed by the apex court in its September 25 verdict.

It said the EC had issued notification for enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct after the announcement of elections in the state.

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