AAP’s Somnath Bharti challenged BJP’s Satish Upadhyay’s election before Delhi HC

BJP MLA Satish Upadhyay at the first session of the Delhi Congress in New Delhi. File Photos | Photo Source: PTI

The Delhi High Court will examine the plea of ​​AAP leader Somnath Bharti, who challenged BJP’s Satish Upadhyay’s election victory in a recently held convention poll on Thursday (27 March 2025).

Justice Jasteet Singh posted the matter on April 8, asking Mr. Bharti to submit certain documents, asking him to make a request for a criminal case against Mr. Upadhyay.

Mr Upadhyay defeated Mr Bharti by winning the Malviya Nagar seat in the capital with 39,564 votes in the Delhi parliamentary elections in February. Mr. Bharti Plea accused Mr. Upadhyay of taking a “corrupt approach” under the representative of the People’s Law.

Earlier this week, two separate petitions were filed to the High Court, challenging the elections of BJP leader and deputy chief minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, from the New Delhi constituency and former Delhi CM and AAP leader Atishi from the Kalkaji Constitution.

At a hearing on Thursday, Rajiv Nayar, a senior advocate representing Mr Upadhyay, opposed any pending FIR’s claims and asked: “Where is the FIR?”. Nayal said the charges must have some material and details.

The court initially stated that Mr. Barty should file an affidavit detailing the allegations he filed in the petition.

“You are saying there is a pending complaint. You have to say it’s pending… If you say you’re not sure, then make sure. That’s why I’ll give you time. If that doesn’t care, just in case it’s not pending, then you’re making false statements about the affidavit,” the judge said.

“This cannot be an investigation of fishing. It is under the representative of the People’s Law. The defendant is the person declared elected.”