Case filed against Rajasthan minister

A case has been filed against Rajasthan's Higher Education Minister Kiran Maheshwari and an official in connection with alleged forging of the minister's nomination papers filed during the 2013 assembly elections, police said on 4 July.

The FIR was lodged in Rajnagar police station on the direction of a local court on 3 July.

The court direction came following a complaint by one Jitendra Khateek who has alleged that Maheshwari had filed incomplete nomination papers while contesting the election from Rajsamand.

The incomplete nomination was later "forged" allegedly by Sub Divisional Officer B M Bairwa, the police said.

On direction of the court, the case was lodged against Maheshwari and Bairwa under sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 120 (B) criminal conspiracy, the police said.

"The case has been referred to CID (CB) for investigation," the police added.

When contacted, the minister said the allegation is politically motivated.

"The case is a politically motivated move at a time when the assembly elections are due next year. Things will clear in the investigation," Maheshwari said.

-PTI