Election expenditure case: Telangana HC dismisses petition against BRS minister Gangula Kamalakar

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court dismissed the petition challenging the election of BRS minister Gangula Kamalakar from Karimnagar assembly constituency in 2018.

Ponnam Prabhakar, who contested on a Congress ticket and lost to Gangula Kamalakar alleged that Kamalakar in contravention of Section-77 of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951 had spent an amount of Rs.50,36,531.85 and was duly certified by the Assistant Registrar K.Jamuna Rani, who was the Officer in the Accounting Team. He said the maximum limit of Election expenses prescribed under Rule 90 of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 for the Assembly Constituency is Rs.28,00,000. Prabhakar alleged it amounts to corrupt practices as envisaged under Section 123(6) of the Act, 1951.

A single-judge bench of Justice Chillakur Sumalatha dismissed the petition filed by Mr Ponnam. The court said Jamuna Rani, Assistant Registrar (Accounts Team) was examined by the Court. Her evidence was produced before the Court along with the Register which clearly stated that the expenditure incurred by Gangula Kamalakar is Rs. 27,46,037-35, which is well within the permissible limit mandated by the Election Commission viz., Rs. 28,00,000.

The court said the allegation of Ponnam Prabhakar that Gangula Kamalakar has spent a huge amount of Rs.50,36,531.85 is false.

The court said the contention of Ponnam Prabhakar is a vague and general statement. The court said it would not be sufficient to constitute a corrupt practice.