Third eye: Relief after clean chit and model code concerns

Rajeev Rai, SP national secretary and first-time Lok Sabha MP, has been cleared by the parliamentary committee on office of profit, ensuring he won't be disqualified under the 'office of profit' provisions. Additionally, a parliamentary panel raised concerns over the model code of conduct affecting trade, recommending immediate release of legally transacted funds by the ECI.

Relief After Clean Chit: SP national secretary and first-time Lok Sabha MP Rajeev Rai had moved the parliamentary committee on office of profit within months of his election from Ghosi last year. As chairman of Amala Jyothi Vidya Kendra Trust, Bangalore, and Adarsh Vidya Trust, Bangalore, and MD of Edutech Solution, Bangalore, and Adarsh Advertising, Bangalore, Rai was concerned that he could be disqualified as MP under the 'office of profit' provisions. After consultations with the law ministry and readings of court cases over the last few months, Rai finally received a clean chit from the panel last week.

Model Code Concerns: A parliamentary panel on law and justice has raised a point of order regarding the model code of conduct. In its latest report, the panel has ruled that on the pretext of MCC, “even genuine transactions of traders are seized”, impacting the trading community and the economy. The panel is of the opinion that ECI should have a mechanism to verify the purpose for which the money is being transacted and if found legal, then the ‘seized’ amount should be released immediately.

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