HC summons CM Fadnavis, BJP MLAs over EVM irregularities in poll petitions

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Thursday issued summons to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and BJP legislators Mohan Mate and Bunty Bhangadiya, in response to election petitions filed by defeated Congress candidates. They alleged serious procedural violations during the October 2024 assembly polls.

Justice Pravin Patil directed the three respondents to submit their replies by May 8. The petitions were filed by Congress leaders Praful Gudadhe, Kiran Pandav, and Satish Warjukar, who lost to Fadnavis in Nagpur South-West, Mate in Nagpur South, and Bhangadiya in Chimur (Chandrapur) respectively.

Filed through counsel Pavan Dahat and Akash Moon, the petitions urge the court to declare victories of the BJP legislators "null and void", citing non-compliance of mandatory electoral protocols of Election Commission. The petitioners argued the poll panel failed to issue a formal notification for using electronic voting machines (EVMs) and withheld vital election records like Form 17 and CCTV footage of strongrooms. They also alleged absence of VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) verification, raising questions on transparency and fairness of electoral process.

The court's move follows similar summons issued on Wednesday to BJP MLA and senior leader Sudhir Mungantiwar, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) MLA Manoj Kayande, and BJP's Deorao Bhongale. The respondents in these cases were also directed to respond within three weeks to petitions filed by Congress candidates Santosh Singh Rawat (Ballarpur), Subhash Dhote (Rajura), and Sharad Pawar-led NCP's Rajendra Shingane (Sindkhed Raja), who raised identical concerns.