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Vendetta, says Nand Lal

MUMBAI: Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Nand Lal, who was released from the Arthur Road jail around on Friday, told the media that he was arrested because the Chief Minister was bent on “personal vendetta.”

Jail officials said that one sunset and one sunrise counted as two days and so Mr. Lal was released on Friday morning. On Thursday, the State Assembly sentenced him to two days imprisonment for breach of privilege, for failing to appear before a House committee.

The basic issue, Mr. Lal told reporters, was that he had replied to the legislative privileges committee on January 4, 2008 quoting several High Court and Supreme Court judgments.

The Election Commissioner pointed out that failing to appear before a privileges committee was not a breach, it was his choice whether to appear or not. He said the arrest was challenged in the High Court but now that he was released, he might have to think about it.

The petition is to be heard next Tuesday. Mr. Lal, who has a running feud with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, said he was only concerned with enforcing rules and regulations, and some politicians wanted no action.

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