The Supreme Court on Monday said the Election Commission has the power to inquire into complaints of paid news against a person contesting polls.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan's plea challenging the EC's jurisdiction to probe paid news complaints was dismissed by the court.
According to the apex court, the EC can disqualify a candidate for lodging a false account of poll expenses, and has directed the latter to complete its probe against Chavan within a period of 45 days in connection with a poll expense case.