Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the petition challenging UPA-Left Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil’s nomination.
A Bench comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and P K Balasubramanyan said that though the allegations have been made against Pratibha Patil but no supporting evidences have been presented in this matter.
Though the petition was dismissed, the bench gave the liberty to the petitioner approach to approach the appropriate authority.
"This petition is filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. We find no ground to interfere and exercise our jurisdiction. However, this will not prevent the petitioner from approaching appropriate authorities for redressal of his grievances," news agency PTI quoted the Bench as saying.
External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee welcomed the SC decision and said, “The sanctity of the President office has been destroyed. We condemn this campaign and appeal to all to vote for Pratibha.”
A Delhi-based advocate has moved the SC saying the UPA candidate's nomination be cancelled since the sugar factory of which she was founder member and chairperson owes Rs 17.7 crore to the Mumbai District Co-operative Bank.
The PIL, filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma had sought a direction against Patil alleging the embezzlement case against her and her family in the Pratibha Mahila Sahkari Bank and a sugar mill.
He alleged that Patil was an undischarged insolvent relating to the Sant Muktai Sugar Factory set up by her at Jalgaon against which a loan of Rs 17.7 crore was due as on 1994 when she was a part of it.
He also accused her of embezzling the entire amount of money collected from 30 employees of the Pratibha Mahila Sahkari Bank, each for the Kargil war victims and not depositing it with the national fund.
Solicitor General of India G E Vahanvati, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium and AICC spokesman and a senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi were present in the court to oppose the petition in case they found the court inclined to entertain the same.
On Monday senior BJP leader L K Advani sought the Election Commission's intervention, saying she has not disclosed her assets.
Patil, meanwhile, has not taken this latest attack on her lying down. She has hit back at charges of financial irregularities against her, describing them as baseless.
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