New Delhi (Agency): The High Court of Karnataka has declared the election of Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) Member of Parliament from Hassan, Prajwal Revanna, null and void. The decision comes after G Devarajegowda, a voter from the constituency, and A Manju, the then BJP’s defeated candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, filed two petitions alleging election malpractice by Revanna.
Justice K Natarajan, in his judgment, has not only declared the election as null and void but also directed the Election Commission of India to take action against Prajwal Revanna for election malpractice, following the Conduct of Election Process Rules.
Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. He was the sole candidate from the JD(S) party to win the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka in 2019. Interestingly, A Manju, who contested against Revanna as a BJP candidate and lost, later joined JD(S) and is currently an MLA.
The petitions alleged that Revanna engaged in election malpractice and failed to declare his assets to the Election Commission. Justice K Natarajan ruled that Prajwal Revanna’s election was null and void due to these malpractices.
However, the court dismissed the plea to declare A Manju as the winning candidate, citing his own involvement in corrupt practices.
The High Court also directed the Election Commission to take action against Prajwal Revanna’s father, H D Revanna, an MLA and former minister, and his brother, Suraj Revanna, an MLC, for election malpractice.
The petitions presented several instances of malpractices and non-declaration of assets by Prajwal Revanna. For instance, it was claimed that he undervalued the Chennambika Conventional Hall and falsely reported his bank balance. Allegations of holding assets in the names of benamis (nominees) and committing income tax fraud were also raised.
In response, Prajwal Revanna’s father, H D Revanna, mentioned that he was yet to receive details about the court’s decision. He emphasized the importance of respecting the court’s decisions and abiding by the law.
The court’s ruling adds a new dimension to the political landscape in Karnataka and raises questions about the impact of malpractices on the electoral process. It also underscores the significance of transparent and ethical conduct in elections.