Fake degree row: AAP MLA Surender Singh denies allegations

NEW DELHI: AAP MLA Surender Singh today denied in the Delhi High Court the allegation that he has obtained a fake graduation degree from Sikkim University, saying that due to an "inadvertent typographical mistake" the name of the varsity was shown incorrectly.

The MLA claimed in his affidavit before Justice Hima Kohli that he has done his graduation from the Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management ( EIILM) University, Sikkim.

"The present petition is based on the premises that the AAP MLA had gained in the election by wearing Army Uniform and by levelling charges against the petitioner (former BJP MLA) during the election campaign...

"The AAP MLA submits that he has not pursued studies from Sikkim University, and perhaps due to an inadvertent typographical mistake, the name of the said university had been mentioned as Sikkim University, whereas he has pursued his studies from EIILM University, Sikkim and thus the inadvertent error," Singh said in his affidavit.

The court by its May 18 order had sought the legislator's response to a petition of BJP leader Karan Singh Tanwar that Singh had "misrepresented himself to be BA in 2012 from Sikkim University... which amounts to corrupt practice within the meaning of the Representation of the People Act."

"It is submitted that if he was serving in NSG (Indian Army) till the year 2011, it is beyond comprehension that he would have graduated or undertaken and completed his alleged BA course in the year 2012," Tanwar has said in his petition.

Refuting the BJP leader's contention, Singh said that the allegation made in the present petition are "frivolous, vague and misconceived".