Orissa High Court Fines Barabati-Cuttack MLA Md Moquim in False Affidavit Case

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has imposed a Rs 10,000 fine on Barabati-Cuttack MLA, Mohammed Moquim, in a false affidavit case. The Congress legislator had requested additional time to testify in the case, which the court found unsatisfactory, leading to the fine.

Moquim was scheduled to appear in court today for his testimony in the false affidavit case. However, his legal counsel filed a petition seeking an extension for his appearance. The court expressed its dissatisfaction with the request and imposed the fine, while rescheduling his appearance to October 17.

The fine amount will be directed to the welfare fund of the High Court. This is not the first time Moquim has been fined in this case; on August 4, the High Court also fined him Rs 10,000 for failing to appear in court, citing the need for additional time for cross-examination of witnesses.

The case revolves around an election petition filed by BJD leader Debashish Samantaray, challenging Moquim’s election to the State Assembly from the Barabati-Cuttack constituency in 2019. Samantaray alleges that Moquim concealed information about criminal cases pending against him while filing nomination papers for the 2019 Assembly elections.