A court in Beed has dismissed a complaint filed against former state minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde. The case alleged that he concealed crucial information in his nomination papers for the Maharashtra State Assembly elections.
Court's Ruling on Intent and Election Victory
The core of the court's decision rested on the requirement of intent under the Representation of the People Act. Judicial Magistrate Dipak Borde, presiding over the case, stated that the sections invoked in the complaint necessitate proof that information was hidden with the specific intent to win an election.
The court held that Munde did not conceal information with any such intent and therefore did not violate the Act. In its order, the court noted Munde's argument that he was elected as a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council back in 2013. Since then, in all affidavits filed for the 2019 and 2024 elections, he has consistently mentioned his wife as Mrs. Rajshri Munde.
"Considering this, it appears that there is no impact on his election victory due to the alleged concealment of facts as claimed by the complainant. Therefore, non-disclosure of such fact does not seem to be with the intent to be elected in an election," Magistrate Borde observed. The court concluded there were no sufficient grounds to proceed against the politician, who contested and won from the Parli constituency in the 2024 elections.
Background of the Complaint and Munde's Defense
The complaint was filed by Karuna Munde, who claims to be Munde's first wife. She alleged that Munde failed to disclose this marital status in his nomination papers, constituting a violation of the law.
Opposing the complaint, Munde's defense presented a different narrative. They stated that Munde and Karuna were in a consensual relationship which resulted in two children. Munde consented to give the children his surname, and consequently, their names were rightfully mentioned in his nomination papers as his children.
It was submitted that Karuna was aware of Munde's existing marriage to Rajshri but had consented to be in the relationship, which eventually ended in 2020.
Discrepancies and Lack of Documentary Proof
The court's order also highlighted inconsistencies in the complainant's claims. It noted that while Karuna Munde claimed in the complaint that they were married in 1996, during the verification process in court, she stated the marriage date was 1998.
"This reveals a discrepancy between the marriage date in the complaint and the verification," the court pointed out. Crucially, the court also recorded that the complainant did not submit any documentary evidence, such as a marriage certificate, to substantiate her claim of a formal marriage with Dhananjay Munde.
The magistrate clarified that the issue of the marriage's validity could be pursued by the complainant before an appropriate civil court, but it did not form grounds for prosecution under the Representation of the People Act in this specific case. The order, dated December 31, 2025, brings legal relief to the NCP leader, closing this particular chapter of allegations.
