Allahabad High Court dismisses plea for FIR against Smriti Irani alleging Minister's involvement in NCW appointment scam

The Allahabad High Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Union Minister Smriti Irani and two others for allegedly demanding ₹25 lakh for appointment as a member of the National Commission for Women (NCW) [Vartika Singh v. State of UP]..The plea was filed by international shooter Vartika Singh, who was allegedly asked to pay ₹25 lakh after she was purportedly nominated as a member of the NCW..Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh dismissed the revision petition against an order of the Special Judge (MP/MLA Court) who had earlier refused to entertain Singh’s application.“There is no error of law or jurisdiction in the impugned order, which requires this Court to interfere with the same in exercise of its revisional jurisdiction,” the single-judge recorded..Before the High Court, Singh claimed that one Dr Rajnish Singh, after speaking with Irani and her secretary Vijay Gupta, had suggested that she be nominated to the NCW as a member.Singh shared her details with him, after which she was given a letter purportedly signed by Irani and addressed to the Prime Minister. She was also informed that a letter was sent to the Superintendent of Police, Pratapgarh with reference to her appointment.Subsequently, Dr Rajnish Singh sent her an unsigned letter and demanded ₹25 lakh in return for her nomination and Irani’s signature on the letter. Despite her refusal, both Dr Singh and Irani’s secretary Vijay Gupta continued to demand the sum, Singh claimed.Thereafter, Singh stated that she visited Irani at her official residence and showed her the letters. She claimed that Irani took all three letters and asked her to go back. This led Singh to believe that the Union Minister was involved in the fraud..Despite her attempts, an FIR was not registered by the police. Therefore, an application was moved before the Special Judge, who called for police reports.It was found by the judge that FIRs were pending against Singh herself for deliberately manufacturing and forging documents and declaring herself a member of the NCW. The judge was also informed that an investigation against Dr Rajnish Singh was underway. The application was, thus, not entertained. The High Court concurred with these findings and stated that the Special Judge had taken the correct view..Advocates Sukh Deo Singh, Arbind Kumar Singh, Paritosh Shukla and Rohit Kumar Tripathi appeared for the petitioners while the respondents were represented by Government Advocates Anurag Kumar Singh and Prashant Singh Atal..[Read Order]