CEC takes objection to K'ka withdrawing Reddy case

Chief Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla has taken strong exception to the withdrawal of cases against Reddy brothers in Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, he made it clear that the withdrawal of cases against the Reddy brothers was in violation of the Election Commissions orders.

The CEC was referring to the withdrawal of a case by the state government in 2009 in which it dropped cases pertaining to election code of conduct by the Reddy brothers.

He said that the state does not have suo motu powers to drop cases relating to election code of conduct and the same should have been referred to the commission. The comments come in the wake of the Governor H R Bharadwaj seeking an explanation from the Reddy brothers regarding them holding an office of profit.

Chawla said that this rule not only applies to Karnataka but to all states and UTs.

"We have already issued instructions to all our CEO in all states, that no case that is election related can be withdrawn without our concurrence and it must meet judicial finality," he said.