Bhopal: Public relations minister Narottam Mishra, who has been declared disqualified by the Election Commission, pleaded his case himself in the Gwalior bench of the Jabalpur High Court on Wednesday, as the lawyers were on strike.
Mishra told the court of Justice Vivek Agarwal that he wanted to cast his vote in the Presidential polls. He said he was elected in 2013 and the complaint regarding paid news against him pertained to the elections of 2008.
He urged the court to stay the execution of the EC order on this ground. Complainant, Bharati, told the court that Mishra’s argument could not be the basis of a stay. He said once a stay order was granted, it would continue for eternity. After hearing the arguments of both the parties, in view of the lawyers’ strike, the court fixed July 10 as the next date of hearing.
Talking to media persons, Mishra said the complainant could not furnish a single proof to substantiate his complaint and neither had the EC, in its order, referred to any evidence. If Mishra does not get a stay, he may not be able to vote in the Presidential polls.
