Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 19: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president Eshwar Khandre was asked by the state high court to pay a fine of five lac rupees for delayed appearance in the court pertaining to election petition.

The high court ordered this money to be remitted to the chief minister's Covid Care Fund. This order was passed by a bench of the high court presided over by Justice Krishna Dixit.

D K Sidrama of BJP, who had unsuccessfully fought the 2018 assembly election against Khandre from Bhalki constituency had approached the state high court seeking to declare Khandre's election null and void. He had claimed that Khandre had indulged in several irregularities. The high court had served notices seeking Khandre's presence, but he had failed to present himself in the court.

Advocate representing Sidrama had urged the court to pass ex parte order as the defendent had failed to appear in the court for two years even after notices were sent. The advocate had urged the court to treat that the defendant has nothing to say in the matter.

At this stage, Khandre approached the court. He claimed that court notices had not come to his notice. He had requested to allow him to be a part of the case as he became aware of the notices now.