Indore, Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking its response on a petition challenging the election of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician Shankar Lalwani as Lok Sabha MP from Indore. Alleged irregularities.

Apart from the ECI, Justice Prannoy Verma of the Indore bench of the HC also issued notices to the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), District Electoral Officer and Lalwani on the petition filed by former airman Dharmendra Singh Jhala.

The single bench listed the case for further hearing on September 2.

In his petition, Jhala argued that he had filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Indore Lok Sabha constituency, but his papers were withdrawn without his knowledge by using fake signatures.

He prayed the High Court to declare Lalwani's election as Indore Lok Sabha MP void for alleged irregularities.

Voting in Indore was held on May 13 and the results were declared on June 4 along with other Lok Sabha seats in the country.

Sitting MP and BJP candidate Lalwani defeated his nearest rival, Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Sanjay Solanki, by a record margin of 11.75 lakh votes. This was the largest margin of victory in the 18th Lok Sabha elections.

It was an easy task for Lalwani after Congress candidate Akshay Kanti Bam withdrew his nomination from the prestigious constituency.