HC notice to AAP MP on plea alleging RS poll irregularities

Chandigarh: Punjab and Haryana high court has issued a notice to Rajender Gupta, AAP Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and an industrialist, on a plea challenging his election to the Upper House.The election petition, filed by Navneet Chaturvedi, alleges ‘corrupt practices', including undue influence and misuse of state machinery during the election process. Chaturvedi was also a contender but his nomination was rejected on the ground that the signatures of AAP MLAs he had submitted were forged.
The petitioner alleges improper rejection of his nomination papers. He claimed that although he spent 70 days in judicial custody, the state failed to prove the authenticity of signatures in related proceedings, and asked how the returning officer (RO) determined the genuineness of signatures within minutes during formal scrutiny.Justice Sanjay Vashisht issued the notice after taking cognisance of Chaturvedi's petition that seeks directions to declare Gupta's election void, and alleges non-compliance with provisions of Representation of the People Act. Gupta has been asked to respond to the allegations. The next hearing is on March 13.The Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant on July 1, 2025, following the resignation of Sanjeev Arora. As per the notified schedule, the process to fill the vacancy commenced on Oct 6, 2025. Nomination papers were to be filed by Oct 13, 2025, and scrutiny by the RO, who was Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretary, was scheduled for Oct 14, 2025. Polling was scheduled for Oct 24, 2025.Chaturvedi, a resident of Rajasthan, initially filed his nomination on Form 2C on Oct 6, 2025, along with a list of MLAs supporting his candidature. However, the nomination was rejected on the ground that the papers were incomplete and lacked the signatures of proposer MLAs.Chaturvedi said that 10 MLAs subsequently signed his nomination papers, following which he re-filed his nomination on Oct 13, 2025, at 2:20 pm. He alleges that the nomination was again rejected without due process and under the influence of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.The petition alleges that the scrutiny, which was required to be conducted confidentially, was compromised. According to Chaturvedi, the nomination papers and the list of supporting MLAs were leaked on WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms shortly after he left the Punjab assembly premises, and that FIRs were registered against him "at the instance of state govt" between 8pm and 11:50pm on Oct 13, 2025, on the behest of complainant MLAs.The petition accuses state govt of misusing its machinery, and alleges that the RO failed to adhere to the prescribed scrutiny schedule and initiated the process without prior intimation to Election Commission of India (ECI). The nomination papers were allegedly rejected without any formal inquiry, notice, or opportunity for a hearing.Rajender Gupta was declared the winner unopposed, on Oct 16, 2025. Chaturvedi seeks directions to declare Gupta's election as null and void.