Delhi High Court seeks response from Atishi in plea challenging her win from Kalkaji in Assembly polls

Justice Jyoti Singh heard the case and issued notices to the respondents, including Atishi; the ECI; Shailendra Kumar Singh, the returning officer for the constituency; and the Delhi Police. While the ECI and the returning officer informed the court that established law dictates that neither party can be included in an election petition, the court stated that it remains open for both the ECI and the returning officer to present this objection in their responses.

The plea, filed by advocate Tanoodbhav Singhdev, claimed that close associates of Atishi were caught with Rs 5 lakh in cash in the constituency on February 3, just a day before the election on February 4. The two associates were allegedly acting on her instructions to “buy votes in her favour.” The petitioners argued that this constitutes the corrupt practice of bribery as outlined in the Representation of the People Act.

The plea alleged that AAP workers, with Atishi’s consent, published fake videos containing false statements that accused men of engaging in hooliganism on the orders of Bidhuri in order to undermine his prospects.

The petitioners alleged that Atishi misused her position to exploit public resources by using a Public Works Department (PWD) vehicle, which was allegedly spotted outside the AAP office in the Kalkaji area, carrying banners and flags of the AAP. They also claimed that Atishi obtained assistance from people in government service to further her electoral prospects and misused her official position to subsidise her campaign efforts.

The petitioners further alleged that Atishi failed to disclose a pending criminal case, filed on January 11 at Govind Puri police station, in her affidavit and thus, she ought to be penalised for the same under provisions of RPA.