New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a response from Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain on a petition filed by BJP leader S C Vats, challenging his election and accusing him of being involved in illegal and corrupt practices.

A single judge bench of the High Court presided by Justice Mukta Gupta issued notices to Satyendra Jain, the Returning Officer, the Chief Election Officer and three other candidates who had contested from the Shakurbasti constituency and asked them to file their responses within four weeks.

The petition was filed by Vats, who lost to Jain in the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections from Shakurbasti constituency. The plea filed by advocate Sahil Ahuja seeks the court's directions to set aside the election of Jain and declare it null and void.

The plea seeks directions to the Returning Officer calling for the records pertaining to the election.

Vats came second in the election which was held in February this year. He has sought to have himself declared as the successful candidate from the Shakurbasti assembly seat. The petitioner claimed that Jain had not revealed his actual expenses incurred during the election campaign. He also accused Jain of bribing people and influencing free and fair elections.

"From the result it is apparent that in Assembly Elections 2020, main contest was only between the petitioner and the respondent number one (Jain) who was already a Minister in the Delhi Cabinet and the margin between both the candidates is of 7,592 votes," the plea said.

"To secure victory in the Delhi Assembly Elections 2020, respondent number one (Jain) committed serious unlawful and corrupt practices under Sections 123(1), (2), (4), (6) and (8) of the Representation of People's Act, 1951 read with Section 77 of the said Act with Rule 90 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 during the process of elections and also committed various offences under the criminal law during that period," the plea added.