Too many mistakes, file again: Delhi High Court to Somnath Bharti on plea against Swaraj’s election

New Delhi, July 22

The Delhi High Court on Monday pointed out multiple errors in AAP leader Somnath Bharti’s petition challenging BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj’s election in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Justice Manmeet PS Arora noted that the petition contained many typographical errors, making it difficult to understand. The references to respondents in the petition did not match those listed in the memo of parties and synopsis.

The court gave Bharti 10 days to file a corrected petition and scheduled the next hearing for August 14. Bharti’s counsel requested the court to issue a notice to the respondents, but the judge refused, stating that a corrected petition was first required.

Bharti’s petition, filed under Sections 80 and 81 of the Representation of the People Act, alleged corrupt practices by Swaraj, her election agent and others.

It claimed that former AAP minister Raaj Kumar Anand contested the election on the BSP ticket to help Swaraj by dividing the vote share, only to join the BJP shortly after the election.

On election day (May 25), Bharti observed Swaraj’s booth agents distributing pamphlets with her ballot number, photo, election symbol and PM Narendra Modi’s photo, urging voters to vote for her, the plea said. Bharti reported this to the returning officer, but no action was taken, according to the petition.

The AAP MLA from the Malviya Nagar Assembly constituency said he would not comment on the proceedings. However, in his statement, he said, “Since being a lawyer, I am also an officer of the court, I can’t comment on the observations of the court. Outside the court and inside the court, I am being represented by KC Mittal. I wish to reiterate that Swaraj, directly as well as through her party BJP, indulged in lots of corrupt practices during campaigning, and I am of the firm belief that the petition will succeed and the election of Swaraj will be set aside.”

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor pointed out the errors in the affidavit. He said, “People of Delhi are shocked to note the poor standard of drafting by Advocate Bharti, and we can well imagine that when he couldn’t file a proper petition for himself, what kind of work he must be doing for his clients.”