M A I N   N E W S

OoP case: Amar Singh says he broke no rules
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 16
Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh in his written submission before the Election Commission on the office of profit case contended that he did not drew any financial or other benefits as chairman of the UP Development Council (UPDC) to attract disqualification as an MP under office-of-profit rules for lawmakers.

In an affidavit filed with the Commission through his counsel, Amar Singh also insisted that his Cabinet rank as head of the UPDC was only a "decorative" designation.

"A perusal of all the pertinent records would show that the respondent (Singh) has never availed of or even asked for any monetary benefit or honorarium or for any residential accommodation in any form or other facilities, including telephone or medical facilities in connection with the said post," the SP leader said in his affidavit.

He maintained that he broke no office-of-profit rules by heading the UPDC, also requested penalty on complainant J.N. Shukla, a Lucknow resident, who has challenged his Rajya Sabha membership.

"It is, therefore, respectfully prayed that the instant reference case may be dismissed with costs," he said.

Amar Singh's counsel Pradeep Rai told reporters that his client would, however, file another reply in two weeks' time because petitioner Shukla has filed a supplementary complaint against him.

"The Election Commission granted us two weeks to file our reply after we sought a copy of the (supplementary) complaint, which was provided to us," Rai said after meeting the EC on behalf of Singh who is currently abroad. He said the EC has not yet fixed a date to file the reply.