Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Apr 11: Assistant commissioner Salma Fahim through an order passed on Friday April 10, ordered registration of a case under section 171 and 188 of the The Representation of the People Act against MLC Shubhalatha Asnotikar, for having concealed details of certain assets owned by her, while filing affidavit along with the nomination papers for the local assembly election filed by her in December 2008.

It may be recalled that Shubhalata Asnotikar had filed her nomination papers as an independent candidate in December 2008, in spite of being a Congress Party member of the legislative council. She reportedly filed the nomination as a dummy for her son Anand Asnotikar, who was fighting on behalf of the BJP and was facing the risk of rejection of nomination on account of a previous case of concealment of details of some assets. Her action had drawn flak from the Congressmen, who were nursing a grouse against Anand Asnotikar for resigning from the party and joining the BJP within three months of getting elected from Karwar constituency. The Congress Party in general and its state president R V Deshpande in particular, were particularly angry over Shubhalata, after she remained inactive during electioneering.

Hearing in the case filed by an individual from Karwar against Shubhalata, had concluded several weeks back. The assistant commissioner, who had reserved her orders, prima facie found substance in the complaint and pronounced orders on Friday through which the officials concerned have been asked to register a case against the erring Congress leader Shubhalata Asnotikar.