Omar Abdullah faces EC flak for concealing facts about estranged wife in 2014 election affidavit
Supreme Court lawyer has filed a petition alleging that Omar Abdullah did not disclose complete information about his divorced wife and kids in his 2014 election affidavit.
In Short
- Omar Abdullah charged of concealing facts relating to his wife Payal Abdullah.
- He will have to file a reply to the petition filed before ECI.
- Omar had filed a divorce petition against his wife Payal Abdullah in 2013.
Omar Abdullah has been charged of concealing facts relating to his wife Payal Abdullah and two sons Zamir and Zahir in his 2014 election affidavit. He will have to file a reply to the petition filed before Election Commission of India in this regard.
The petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer alleges that Omar Abdullah in his 2014 election affidavit did not disclose complete information regarding his wife's movable and immovable assets. The fact that his two sons Zamir and Zahir, who are still his dependents, was also not disclosed.
Omar in his affidavit has merely mentioned separated with wife and in the column for declaring his wife's movable assets he has mentioned 'Not Applicable.' Also names of his two sons have not been mentioned in the column for dependents. Omar Abdullah had filed a divorce petition against his wife Payal Abdullah in 2013. Hearings of the matter took place in Patiala House Courts. The next date of hearing is on 6th August.
CONCEALING MARITAL FACTS
However Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Agarwal on Wednesday filed a petition in Election Commission of India alleging former J&K Chief Minister concealed material fact when he contested from Beerwah Assembly constituency and this election be declared null and void. He states concealment of the facts amounts to violation of Election Commission rules and Representation of Peoples Act, 1951.
In the affidavit of 2008 J&K Assembly elections Omar Abdullah from Ganderbal, he has filled column of spouse's movable and immovable assets, while in the 2014 Assembly election, when he contested from Beerwah he has filled in the spouse's column as 'separated' and wrote 'NA' in all other columns.
Ajay Agarwal's case is that though Omar and Payal are living separately but they have legally not been divorced. Hence Omar should have disclosed the information pertaining to his wife's assets and declared his children as dependents. Payal is still his wife and continues to live with her two sons in the official accommodation allotted to Omar Abdullah at 7 Akbar Road.
Payal Abdullah's lawyer, Sudesh Yadav, said, "Final arguments from both the sides are over. But the court is yet to come up with a decree. They are living separately but the court decree on divorce is yet to be pronounced." Omar Abdullah's lawyer, Malvika Rajkotia, said, "I will be exceeding my brief if I comment on the petition before Election Commission." She added, as far as divorce hearings are concerned they are in camera proceedings.
Ajay Agarwal, who has filed several public interest petitions like Taj corridor case, Telgi Stamp Scam, Bofors and Quattrochi case, Commonwealth Games scam, said Omar Abdullah belongs to an illustrious family and so he should be set an example rather than concealing facts in his affidavit.
Several attempts were made to speak to Omar Abdullah but he did not respond.
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