Delhi HC issues notices to Atishi, BJP’s Parvesh Verma on pleas challenging their election

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Parvesh Verma on pleas challenging their election in the recent Assembly polls in the national capital, PTI reported.

The plea challenging the election of Atishi, the former chief minister, alleged that she had used corrupt practices, including creation of fake videos to damage the BJP’s image and misused official resources for her campaign, The Hindu reported.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader had “misused her official position of power to subsidise her electioneering campaign and expand her reach to voters by using official vehicles and governmental employees to canvas for her support”, The Hindu quoted the petition as saying.

The plea also quotes alleged confessions of Aam Aadmi Party workers who said that “fake videos” were created on Atishi’s instructions.

Atishi had defeated BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri in the Kalkaji constituency.

On February 4, on the eve of polling, the Delhi Police registered a first information report against Atishi for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct and obstructing public servants on duty.

The code is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission that candidates, political parties and the government must follow during an election. It sets guardrails for campaigning, speeches, meetings and other aspects of the polls.

Atishi was found with 50 to 70 supporters and 10 vehicles...

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