While giving the order on the petition of Congress leader P. Rajeshwar Reddy, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the BRS leader.
Vitthal was elected to the Legislative Council from Adilabad local authorities constituency in 2022. Rajeshwar Reddy, who was in BRS at that time, was interested in the party ticket. After not getting the ticket, he filed his nomination as an independent candidate. Later, the Returning Officer announced that Rajeswara Reddy had withdrawn his nomination.
There were allegations that Vitthal forged Rajeshwar Reddy's signature to withdraw his nomination. After Vitthal was declared elected, Rajeshwar Raid filed a petition challenging his election.
Claiming that he had not withdrawn his nomination and that his signature was forged, the Congress leader had requested the court to declare Vitthal's election illegal.
The court had also sent the signatures of the petitioner and the signatures on the withdrawal application to the Central Forensic Laboratory. After taking into account the report of the Advocate Commissioner and examination of witnesses and hearing the arguments of both the parties, the court reserved the order.
The court on Friday pronounced the order canceling Vitthal's election, however, on the request of Vitthal's lawyer, it suspended the implementation of the order for four weeks to enable Vitthal to file an appeal.
Meanwhile, the MLC said that he will challenge this order in the Supreme Court. This is another blow to BRS ahead of the May 13 Lok Sabha elections.
The BRS, which had been ruling Telangana since its formation in 2014, lost power to the Congress in the elections held in November last year. The party has lost several key leaders, including six MPs, three MLAs and some MLCs, to the Congress or BJP.
Vitthal was elected to the Legislative Council from Adilabad local authorities constituency in 2022. Rajeshwar Reddy, who was in BRS at that time, was interested in the party ticket. After not getting the ticket, he filed his nomination as an independent candidate. Later, the Returning Officer announced that Rajeswara Reddy had withdrawn his nomination.
There were allegations that Vitthal forged Rajeshwar Reddy's signature to withdraw his nomination. After Vitthal was declared elected, Rajeshwar Raid filed a petition challenging his election.
Claiming that he had not withdrawn his nomination and that his signature was forged, the Congress leader had requested the court to declare Vitthal's election illegal.
The court had also sent the signatures of the petitioner and the signatures on the withdrawal application to the Central Forensic Laboratory. After taking into account the report of the Advocate Commissioner and examination of witnesses and hearing the arguments of both the parties, the court reserved the order.
The court on Friday pronounced the order canceling Vitthal's election, however, on the request of Vitthal's lawyer, it suspended the implementation of the order for four weeks to enable Vitthal to file an appeal.
Meanwhile, the MLC said that he will challenge this order in the Supreme Court. This is another blow to BRS ahead of the May 13 Lok Sabha elections.
The BRS, which had been ruling Telangana since its formation in 2014, lost power to the Congress in the elections held in November last year. The party has lost several key leaders, including six MPs, three MLAs and some MLCs, to the Congress or BJP.
