The Delhi High Court dismissed AAP leader Somnath Bharti’s election petition, upholding BJP’s Satish Upadhyay’s 2025 Malviya Nagar victory. Bharti had alleged non-disclosure of a pending criminal complaint, but the court rejected the claims.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court dismissed an election petition filed by AAP leader Somnath Bharti, who contested the 2025 assembly election outcome in Malviya Nagar, where BJP’s Satish Upadhyay won the seat.
Justice Jasmeet Singh announced the dismissal on Saturday. Bharti’s petition challenged the legality of Upadhyay’s nomination and alleged election irregularities.
Malviya Nagar has been an AAP’s longtime constituency, with Somnath Bharti holding the seat since 2013. However, in the 2025 assembly polls, he lost to Satish Upadhyay by a margin of around 2,100 votes, ending Bharti’s three-term run.
The win sparked controversy and led to the legal challenge, as election margins this close often trigger scrutiny over candidate disclosures and procedural compliance.
Bharti’s petition claimed that Satish Upadhyay failed to disclose a pending criminal complaint or FIR while filing his nomination. According to the petition:
- This omission violated the Representation of the People Act, 1951
- It amounted to a corrupt practice
- It influenced the voters’ decision
- It should nullify Upadhyay’s election
Bharti argued that such disclosure is essential for transparency and fair electoral conduct. The petition suggested that withholding this information misled voters and affected the election outcome.
Satish Upadhyay’s legal team denied Bharti’s claims. They argued that:
- The allegations were unsubstantiated
- Upadhyay followed all legal disclosure norms
- The election was conducted fairly and transparently
Appearance:
Somnath Bharti: In person with Advocate Anand Prakash Gautam
Satish Upadhyay: Senior Advocates Rajiv Nayar, Jayant Mehta and Gautam Narayan, with Advocates Saurabh Seth, Sumer Dev Seth, Neelampreet Kaur, Abhiroop Rathore and Kabir Dev