Karnataka HC notice to ECI on plea seeking prosecution of Srirangapatna MLA Bandisidde Gowda for for alleged non-disclosure of assets in election affidavit

The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday ordered issue of notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and MLA for Srirangapatna A.B. Ramesha Bandisidde Gowda, on a petition which has questioned a special court rejecting criminal prosecution of the MLA for allegedly not disclosing certain immovable properties in his affidavit for the 2023 Assembly elections.

Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde passed the order on the petition filed by M.D. Adish Sagar, a voter in Mysuru.

The special court of magistrate for criminal cases against former and present MPs and MLAs on July 27 rejected the petitioner’s complaint as “not maintainable” holding that only the Election Commission of India (ECI) can lodge a complaint under Section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.