EC may slap criminal cases for foul remarks: CEO

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar today directed that those in the poll fray and leaders of any political party in Telangana should desist from making abusive language against each other as it will violate the poll code and invites criminal procedures as per Supreme Court guidelines.

Expressing displeasure at the pouring in of a number of plaints by the political parties about use of abusive language, malafide intentions and aim to tarnish the image of others, will only attract criminal cases by the Election Commission, he warned.

Addressing the media at the Secretariat here, Rajat Kumar said the EC has been receiving a number of plaints from political parties against each other which was not fair. He also said the political parties were indulging in small games but law is big and it will take its course of action if the candidates failed to give their details of criminal background and liabilities to the EC.

On finding guilty in 45 days, the candidature of the leaders will be cancelled if they failed to submit their details. There shall not be meetings of caste and community genre and parties should stop them he said. He said that the EC served notices to political leaders and parties on the plaints. The EC sleuths have so far seized Rs 82.2 crore cash, liquor, gold and silver, out of which Rs 69.86 crore cash, liquor worth Rs 6.66 crore, gold, silver and other goods worth Rs 5.02 crore.

He explained that on November 14, nominations filed by the candidates are 331, in which 64 from INC, 47 from BJP, 9 from TDP, 7 from BSP, 5 CPM, 1 CPI, 1 AIMIM, 2 NCP and others 117. One lakh more names were included totaling to 2.75 crore voters and complete the process by November 19, he added.

[source_without_link]NSS[/source_without_link]