The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a petition filed by Karnataka Congress MLA TD Rajegowda against a plea before the Karnataka High Court challenging his victory in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls.
The election petition in question, moved by Bharatiya Janata Party leader DN Jeevaraja, was pending before the Karnataka High Court.
Rajegowda had defeated Jeevaraja to win the MLA seat from the Sringeri Assembly constituency.
Appearing for Rajegowda, Senior Advocate Shyam Divan today apprised the Bench that Jeevaraja has levelled vague allegations like the use of black money during the polls, without any evidence, while challenging the poll results.
The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, however, declined to entertain Rajegowda’s plea at the present stage on the grounds that there was a provision which allowed evidence to be produced.
The top court of the country ruled that there was no reason to entertain the petition at this point of time.
The Congress MLA had moved a similar petition in 2024 as well, objecting to vague allegations made against his election victory.
On September 27, 2024, the top court of the country had observed that Rajegowda would be entitled to raise his objections against the admissibility or relevance of the any evidence produced by Jeevaraja to support his allegations at an appropriate stage.
It had directed the Election Tribunal-cum-High Court to consider such objections in accordance with law.
The Bench told the Counsel representing the Congress MLA today that its earlier order would take care of his concerns.