Delhi court asks AAP MLA for October 13 appearance

A Delhi court has issued summons to AAP legislator Som Dutt for court appearance on October 13 in a case in which he is accused of furnishing false information in his poll affidavits.

"Prima facie, it is clear from record that Dutt's parents were dependent on him. But he suppressed this information in details furnished to the Returning Officer and also failed to declare their movable and immovable assets," Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra said on Wednesday.

He is accused of furnishing false information, giving false statement on oath or affirmation to public servant under the Indian Penal Code, and filing a false affidavit under the Representation of the People Act.

The court is hearing a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Praveen Jain, who unsuccessfully contested against Dutt from Sadar Bazar seat.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader was accused of filing affidavits declaring his parents as living independently before the Election Commission during the 2013 and 2015 assembly polls.

However, the BJP leader alleged, information obtained under the Right To Information Act from the Delhi Vidhan Sabha revealed that the AAP leader obtained medical facility card under the Delhi Government Employees Health Scheme and declared his parents as dependents.

The dependent parents can thus avail of medical facility against this card.

"This clearly and very well establishes Dutt's crime that he filed false affidavits before the Election Commission by concealing the fact that his parents were actually dependent on him and not independent," Jain said.