The Supreme Court on Friday said it was of the tentative view that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati had to deposit public money she spent as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in erecting statues of herself and party symbol ‘elephant’ at parks in Lucknow and Noida to the state exchequer.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi today did not take kindly to the former CM’s decision to use public exchequer for constructing images of herself and the BSP’s electoral symbol in several places, including Noida and Lucknow.
“We primarily think that Mayawati has to deposit the public money she has spent on statues, elephants,” remarked Justice Gogoi.
The bench, also comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjeev Khanna made it clear that the tentative view was expressed by it as the matter would take some time for hearing.
The bench posted the matter for final hearing on April 2.
