New Delhi, 8 Dec

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on a plea challenging his 2023 election victory from the Varuna Assembly constituency.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta sought Siddaramaiah’s response on a petition filed by K Shankara. “Issue notice,” the bench said, while calling for his reply.

Shankara has approached the apex court against the 22 April order of the Karnataka High Court, which dismissed his plea seeking to declare Siddaramaiah’s election from Varuna as void.

In his petition, Shankara alleged that the chief minister had indulged in corrupt practices under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The high court had earlier rejected the election challenge, prompting the petitioner to escalate the matter before the Supreme Court for further scrutiny.