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BENGALURU — In a stinging judicial rebuke that has sent tremors through Karnataka’s political landscape, the High Court has dismantled the 2023 electoral triumph of Congress MLA S.N. Subba Reddy. The verdict, delivered by Justice M.G.S. Kamal, transforms the Bagepalli representative’s legislative seat into a vacuum, citing a "calculated concealment" of assets that fundamentally compromised the sanctity of the democratic ballot.
The Anatomy of an Omission
The court’s 146-page judgment paints a picture of a candidate who presented a curated reality to the electorate. While Reddy’s official affidavit (Form 26) boasted assets exceeding ₹313 crore, the petitioner—defeated BJP rival C. Muniraju—successfully argued that the "wealth of information" provided was selectively incomplete.
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The bench observed that Reddy had suppressed vital details regarding:
Business Interests: Multiple commercial entities and current accounts registered under his and his spouse's names.
The "Shadow" Wealth: Undisclosed properties and financial liabilities that remained hidden behind the formal declaration.
Justice Kamal ruled that such omissions are not mere clerical errors but constitute "undue influence" under Section 123(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. By denying voters a transparent view of his financial profile, the court held that Reddy had engaged in "corrupt practices," rendering his election invalid and void.
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A Pyrrhic Victory for the Petitioner
While the gavel fell heavily on Reddy, it did not grant C. Muniraju his ultimate wish. The court rejected the BJP leader’s plea to be declared the winner by default. Despite Reddy’s disqualification, the court maintained that the will of the people—however misled—cannot be reassigned to the runner-up without a fresh mandate.
"The Registry shall communicate this order to the Speaker of the State Legislature and forward a certified copy to the Election Commission... to ensure the integrity of the 16th Karnataka Legislative Assembly."
Political Aftershocks
For the ruling Congress, the timing is a bitter pill. Already navigating the choppy waters of internal factionalism, the party now faces the prospect of a high-stakes by-election in the Chikkaballapur region.
Reddy has been granted a 30-day stay on the order to allow for an appeal to the Supreme Court. Should the apex court decline to intervene, Bagepalli will witness a return to the hustings—this time under the shadow of a verdict that demands absolute transparency from those who seek the public's trust.
