The Shillong Bench of Gauhati High Court has issued notice to Chief Election Commissioner, Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the East Khasi Hills Returning Officer asking why the election department didn’t furnish the recorded statement of AICC general secretary Margaret Alva on Rs 23.80 lakh being found from the hotel room of AICC secretary and party accountant. The court has given them three weeks time to respond. Alva had said the money was meant to be given to four Congress candidates who are contesting the polls. She said the AICC had sanctioned Rs 1.35 crore for election expenses in Meghalaya. The 60 Congress candidates, who are contesting the polls, had been given Rs 5 lakh each as per the ceiling put by the EC on a candidate’s expenditure. She said the remaining Rs 35 lakh was meant for public meetings.
