HC expresses displeasure over absence of MP Prajwal Revanna during hearing of election petition
Bengaluru, Jun 17: The High Court of Karnataka on Friday expressed displeasure over Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna not being present during the hearing of an election petition (EP) challenging his election. The court witnessed the chief examination of the EP filed by one G Devarajegowda, a voter from the constituency.
The matter came up for hearing before Justice K Natarajan.
Justice Natarajan who is on the roster in the Dharwad Bench was in Bengaluru today to hear the petition. The EP challenged Revanna's election on grounds that he had not secured the maximum number of valid votes. The petition alleged bribery and non-disclosure of assets.
Noticing that the first respondent Revanna himself was not present at the hearing, the court observed, "You can't pay advocates to attend the case and stay away."
During the examination, the petitioner-witness pointed out various instances wherein the assets declared by Revanna were allegedly wrong.
The second respondent in the case is A Manju, the defeated candidate in the same election.
His chief examination was also conducted by the petitioner's counsel and senior advocate Pramila Nesargi today.
During the examination, the example of the "Chennambika Conventional Hall" was cited, which is said to be worth at least Rs five crore but declared as worth only Rs 14 lakh. Another example was a bank balance in an account declared as Rs five lakh but allegedly having a deposit of Rs 48 lakh.
It was alleged that there were several benami' assets of the MP and income tax fraud.
The Court adjourned the hearing to June 24.
This EP was earlier dismissed by the High Court on technical grounds that the annexures were not attested. The Supreme Court, however, set aside that order and sent the petition back for hearing.
Another EP was filed against Prajwal Revanna by A Manju, the defeated candidate in the Lok Sabha election held in 2019.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Prashant Kishor starts fast unto death to press demand for BPSC exam cancellation
Patna, Jan 2: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Thursday announced that he was commencing a fast unto death to press the demand for cancellation of the recently held Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam.
Kishor made the announcement at the historic Gandhi Maidan, a couple of kilometres from the spot where several aggrieved candidates have been on a round-the-clock protest for nearly two weeks.
"My demands include cancellation of the exam and holding of fresh tests. I also seek action against corrupt officials who had allegedly put posts, to be filled by the exams, on sale," Kishor told reporters.
On Monday, shortly after a delegation of protesters met Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena, Kishor had said he would wait for "48 hours" and intensify the stir if the Nitish Kumar government failed to take any action on the alleged paper leak for the Combined Competitive Exams held on December 13 last year.
