The Election Commission today slapped a show cause notice to former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan for failing to lodge his election expenses as per law in a paid news case. The commission also asked him why he should not be disqualified. Setting a 20-day deadline to respond to the notice, the Commission said that he has failed to lodge his account in the manner required by the Representation of the People Act and rules.

Earlier the poll body, on the directions of the Supreme Court, had issued a notice to Chavan in May to appear before it in connection with the case of alleged expenses made by him during 2009 Maharashtra assembly polls which were categorised as paid news.

The full bench of the Poll Body comprising chief election commissioner (CEC) V S Sampath and election commissioners H S Brahma and S N A Zaidi today issued order. It had reserved its decision on the issue on 19th June.

If Chavan is disqualified by the commission, it may have an impact on his Lok Sabha membership also though the issue relates to his contesting the assembly polls.