HC notice to SP MLA on election petition

IN THE PETITION, SANGEET SINGH SOM HAS ALLEGED CONCEALMENT OF CRIMINAL CASES BY THE MLA

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court on Friday issued notice to Samajwadi Party MLA from Sardhana assembly seat of Meerut, Atul Pradhan, in response to an election petition filed by BJP candidate Sangeet Singh Som.

In the petition, Sangeet Singh Som has alleged concealment of criminal cases by the MLA, which amounted to corrupt practice.

Hence, in this backdrop, he has demanded that Pradhan’s election as MLA be declared as void.

Taking these submissions on record, Justice JJ Munir issued notice to Atul Pradhan, fixing July 4, 2022 as the next date of hearing.

The court also directed that on the next date scheduled, if Pradhan wishes to put up a defence, he shall file his written statement together with a list of all documents, whether in his possession or power or not, upon which he intends to rely as evidence in support of his defence as per high court rules.

According to Som’s counsel, Atul Pradhan had suppressed 11 criminal cases pending against him, where charge-sheets were filed and cognizance taken, while submitting his nomination form on January 19, 2022 before the returning officer, Sardhana assembly constituency of Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh.

According to the petitioner, failure to disclose criminal cases pending against the petitioner, in his affidavit filed in support of the nomination paper dated January 19, 2022, filed before the returning officer, constituted undue influence and a corrupt practice under the provisions of Section 123(2) of the Representation of the People Act.