Bombay High Court Reserves Judgment on Amol Kirti's Petition Against Ravindra Waikar's Election

The Bombay High Court has reserved its judgment on a petition filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Amol Kirti, challenging the election of Ravindra Waikar, a leader of the Shinde faction, as Member of Parliament for the Mumbai North-West constituency. Waikar had defeated Kirti by a narrow margin of 48 votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Kirti’s petition alleges several irregularities during the election process, including the refusal of election officials to allow a recount of the votes. He argued that, given the slim margin of defeat, a recount was his legal right, and the officials’ refusal violated the principles of fair election practices.

In addition to the recount issue, Kirti raised concerns over the conduct of Waikar's close associates. According to the petition, these individuals were allowed to carry mobile phones into a restricted area, despite the clear prohibition on mobile phone usage during voting and counting. Kirti claims that this was a deliberate violation of election rules intended to ensure a fair and transparent process.

His petition also highlighted the alleged obstruction of his election agents. He contended that, despite legal permissions, his agents were not allowed to sit near the election officials' tables during the counting process, further suggesting potential manipulation of the election proceedings.

The case was heard by Justice Sandeep Marne, who after hearing arguments from both sides, reserved his verdict on the matter.