Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday issued a notice to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Fadnavis has to respond to the notice, issued by the Nagpur bench of the high court, on May 8.
The summons is in connection with a poll petition filed in January by Congress leader Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe, challenging Fadnavis’ win from Nagpur South West constituency in last year’s Maharashtra Assembly election.
Gudadhe, who lost to Fadnavis by 39,710 votes, alleged procedural lapses and corrupt practices in his petition, and wanted the high court to declare Fadnavis’ win null and void, PTI reported.
Justice Pravin Patil, who took up the plea for hearing in his chamber on Thursday, issued the notice to Fadnavis.
“Justice Pravin Patil issued summons (notice) to CM Fadnavis returnable on May 8,” Gudadhe’s lawyer Pavan Dahat said.
Fadnavis, however, does not have to personally appear before the court. His legal representative can respond to the petition before the judge on the specified date.
According to Gudadhe’s lawyers Pavan Dahat and AB Moon, several mandatory provisions were not followed during the state Assembly polls held in November 2024.
The Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar), routed the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance by winning over three-fourths of the seats — 230 out of 288.
The high court also issued summons notices to BJP MLA Mohan Mate from Nagpur West and Kirtikumar Bhangdia from Chimur constituency in Chandrapur district in similar election petitions.
