Hyderabad: Eight city corporators, six from the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, one from AIMIM and one from the BJP gave false affidavits during corporation elections in 2016. However they have gone scot-free, thanks to the reluctance of the GHMC Commissioner and the Election Commission to hold them to account.
As reported by DC, the information was brought to light by a Right to Information query.
Tainted corporators include, Mustafa Ali, Shah Ali Banda, AIMIM, G. Sanjay Goud, Yousufguda, TRS, D. Venkatesh Goud, Allwyn Colony, TRS, N. Jagadeeshwar Goud, Malkajgiri, TRS, V. Radha Reddy, RK Puram, BJP, M. Mamatha, Gunfoundry, TRS, A. Chaitanya Kanna, Kachiguda, TRS and A. Rupa, Monda Market, TRS.
As per Section 609 of GHMC Act, if a person makes a false declaration regarding any nomination of a candidate for election or any return on election, he is subject to one year imprisonment.
It must be noted that Forum for Good Governance brought the serious irregularities to the notice of Election Commission but the commission passed the buck and sent a letter to the GHMC Commissioner who washed his hands of the matter, saying that he need not file court cases and any aggrieved party can do so, and advised Forum for Good Governance to file the complaints in court itself.
Thus the eight tainted corporators, who can be removed on the basis of filing false affidavits, are continuing in their posts thanks to the reluctance of Election Commission and the GHMC election authority.