In a significant development, the Bombay High Court issued a summons to BJP MP Narayan Rane on Friday. This legal action follows a plea by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vinayak Raut, who has contested the validity of Rane’s election victory in the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency during the recent Lok Sabha polls.
Vinayak Raut, who lost to Rane by a margin of 47,858 votes, has filed a petition alleging that Rane secured his position through fraudulent practices. Raut garnered 4,00,656 votes against Rane’s 4,48,514. In his plea, Raut has urged the court not only to annul Rane’s election but also to prohibit him from voting or contesting in elections for the next five years.
Justice S.V. Kotwal, presiding over the case, has scheduled a further hearing for September 12, giving Rane an opportunity to respond to these allegations.
The petition by Raut also includes a demand for a fresh election or re-election, pending a comprehensive investigation into the alleged electoral malpractices. Notably, Raut has requested that the court prevent Rane from performing his duties as MP until the matter is resolved.
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A critical piece of evidence cited in the petition is a video purportedly showing Rane’s supporters engaging in vote-buying after the official campaign period ended, an act Raut claims violates the Representation of People Act of 1951.
