Today, Delhi Court took cognizance of complaint against Union HRD ministe Smriti Irani for allegedly supplying false information on her educational qualifications. Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain fixed the matter for recording of pre-summoning evidence on 28 August. He added “It is held that the present complaint case is filed under limitation (of time). Cognizance is taken. It has directed the complainant to prove his allegations,” Smriti Irani’s lawyer told media. “Her educational qualifications are not false. There is no ambiguity. The court should not even have taken any cognizance of the complaint,” said defending lawyer. Minister’s lawyer clarified that the HRD Minister had not been summoned in the case so far and no FIR had been booked against her.
The complainant in the case, Ahmer Khan, said, “The court took our allegations very seriously. On 28 August, I will submit evidence in the court. Then, summons to Smriti Irani will be served.This is not a personal victory. This is a victory for the people. Smriti Irani is accountable to the people. She will have to provide answers. In her affidavits, Smriti Irani gave wrong educational qualifications. It is not wrong to be illiterate. But giving wrong qualifications, especially after being the HRD Minister, is not correct”.
The complaint filed by freelance writer Ahmer Khan alleged that Irani, in her 3 affidavits before the Election Commission while filing nominations for her candidature for Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha polls, had purportedly given different details about her educational qualifications. Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain had on 1 June reserved the order on the plea after hearing arguments on the aspect of limitation and whether cognisance can be taken or not.
