Karnataka High Court Disqualifies JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna Citing Irregularities In Election Affidavit

The Karnataka High Court on Friday declared the election of MP Prajwal Revanna of the Janatha Dal Secular Party as null and void for filing false information in his election affidavit.

Justice K Natarajan while pronouncing the order said,

“Both the Election petitions are allowed in part. The election of returned candidate respondent no. 1 alias Prajwal R, Member of the Parliament, having being declared as returned candidate dated 23-05-2019, is hereby declared as null and void.”

Further, it rejected the prayer to declare A Manju (one of the petitioners) as the returned candidate, in view of the findings that he himself is involved in corrupt practices.

In 2021, the Supreme Court had set aside the order of the High Court dated 17.1.2020 which allowed Revanna's application under Order 7 Rule 11 and rejected the election petition. The Apex Court had directed the High Court to take up further proceedings in the election petition urgently, saying “Almost two and a half years have gone on the preliminary skirmishes rather than the meat of the matter, which we are sure the learned single Judge of the High Court would so do.”

Revanna had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Hassan and was accused of giving false information to the Election Commission. Prajwal was declared the winner with 6,76,606 votes. Manju came as the runner-up, with 5,35,282 votes.

Case Title: A MANJU And PRAJWAL REVANNA @ PRAJWAL R.

Case No: EP 1/2019 C/W EP 2/2019.

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Kar) 339