AAP Leader Somnath Bharti Moves Delhi High Court Challenging Victory Of BJP's Satish Upadhyay In Assembly Polls

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court challenging the victory of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Satish Upadhyay from Malviya Nagar constituency seat in the recently conducted Assembly polls.

Upadhyay defeated Bharti by winning the seat with 39,564 votes. Bharti received a total of 37,433 votes.

Bharti has challenged Upadhyay's victory on the ground of “corrupt practices” under the Representative of People Act, 1951. He has further alleged that there is a pending complaint or FIR against Upadhyay.

The matter was heard briefly by Justice Jasmeet Singh today. Somnath Bharti appeared in person. Upadhyay was represented by Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar.

Nayar refuted the claim of pendency of FIR and submitted: “It is very easy to say that there is an FIR but where is the FIR?”

The Court questioned Bharti regarding the pendency of the criminal complaint against Upadhyay.

“You are saying that there is a complaint pending. If you say you are unsure, then please be sure. That is why I am giving you time. In case this is not pending, then you are making false statement on affidavit,” the Court told Bharti.

“It cannot be a fishing enquiry. It is under the Representative of People Act. The respondent is somebody who has been declared as elected…,” the Court added.

At the request of Bharti to ascertain the details about the pendency of the complaint, the Court adjourned the matter for hearing on April 08.

Yesterday, Justice Singh had issued notice on a plea challenging the election of BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Parvesh Verma from the New Delhi constituency in the Assembly polls.

Similarly, a coordinate bench issued notice on another plea challenging the election of Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi Marlena from Kalkaji constituency.

Title: Somnath Bharti v. Satish Upadhyay