HC CJ orders probe into missing pen-drive in poll plea against Haryana minister

Chandigarh: The Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered a probe into the disappearance of a pen drive containing election-related videos pertaining to a petition filed by Congress's Karan Singh Dalal challenging the election of Haryana minister Gaurav Gautam as MLA from Palwal in 2024.The pen drive allegedly disappeared from high court records. Information regarding the inquiry was provided before the bench of Justice Archana Puri on March 27. The court was informed that the inquiry officer posted in HC was probing the loss of the pen drive after receiving orders from the Chief Justice and that the inquiry is still pending. The next hearing is on April 30.Gautam, contesting as a BJP candidate, won the 2024 Haryana assembly elections by defeating Congress's Dalal by 33,605 votes. Dalal challenged his election in HC, alleging that Gautam had indulged in corrupt practices -- including appealing for votes in the name of religion, misuse of religious events during the campaign period, and exerting undue influence on voters. He provided some material, including a pen drive, along with his petition to substantiate his allegations and sought Gautam's disqualification for six years.As the matter was pending before HC, the high court registry informed Dalal that the pen drive that was part of the court records could not be traced. Dalal then submitted a formal complaint before the registrar.As per the complaint, the pen drive contained videos relating to the election and constituted the primary electronic evidence in the election petition.Gatam also filed an application before HC, seeking rejection of Dalal's petition on the grounds that it lacked material facts required under Section 83 of Representation of the People Act. It also argued that Dalal's allegations were "vague", particularly those involving use of ‘Sanatan' and ‘Hindutva', arguing that use of words associated with religion could not constitute corrupt practices without specific factual details.However, in its detailed order dated Nov 28, 2025, HC dismissed Gautam's plea, holding that the allegations of corrupt practices under Representation of the People Act warrant a full trial. HC also held that Dalal's petition contains sufficient material facts and cannot be thrown out for lack of cause of action. Later, Gautam approached Supreme Court, which on Jan 8 stayed HC's Nov 28, 2025, order.