A complaint has been lodged in the Karnataka Assembly Secretariat against Congress President and Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge. Social activist Dinesh Kallahalli has alleged that Kharge did not disclose important financial information related to Siddharth Vihar Trust in his election affidavit (Form-26) filed during the Rajya Sabha elections.
Trust property not mentioned in election affidavit
Kallahalli has claimed in his complaint that the total assets (net worth) of Kalaburagi-based Siddharth Vihar Trust as of March 31, 2023 were approximately Rs 36.86 crore. They allege that the founder of this trust is Kharge and he did not mention the assets, financial interests and details related to the trust in his election affidavit.
The complaint states that it is mandatory for candidates contesting elections to give complete and correct details of their assets and financial interests. Kallahalli has cited the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and various decisions of the Supreme Court related to electoral transparency in support of this. He says that if any candidate has hidden important information knowingly or unknowingly, then it should be investigated.
Demand for legal review of the case from Karnataka Assembly Secretariat
The social activist has demanded a legal review of the matter from the Karnataka Assembly Secretariat. He has demanded an investigation of the trustee details, audit report, income tax documents and other financial records of the trust, so that it can be clear whether all the necessary information was given in the election affidavit or not.
Kallahalli said, “Hon’ble Mallikarjun Kharge, while contesting Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka Assembly, has allegedly hidden some facts instead of giving complete information in Form-26. Siddharth Vihar Trust, whose estimated net worth is around Rs 36 crore, was not mentioned in the affidavit. The Supreme Court has made it clear in several judgments that candidates contesting elections should give complete and accurate information about their assets and interests.”
He further said that if the investigation confirms any kind of hiding of information or giving incomplete information, then appropriate legal action should be taken under the relevant provisions. There has been no official response from Mallikarjun Kharge or the Congress party on this matter. After the complaint is registered, now it has to be seen whether the Assembly Secretariat starts the process of preliminary investigation or legal trial in this matter or not. This matter has come to light at a time when there is a continuous debate about transparency in election affidavits and disclosure of asset related information by candidates.
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