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States » NorthPosted at: Apr 25 2025 10:55PM


RS elections horse-trading: HC dismisses plea to quash FIR against BJP MLA, ex-Uttarakhand CS

Shimla, Apr 25 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed a petition filed by retired IAS officer and former chief secretary of Uttarakhand Rakesh Sharma and his son, BJP MLA from Hamirpur Ashish Sharma, seeking quashing of an FIR lodged against them in connection with alleged horse-trading during the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections.

The petitioners had also requested a CBI investigation, but the court found no grounds to interfere with the ongoing inquiry.
Justice Rakesh Kanthala, while delivering the verdict, stated that the FIR could not be quashed at this stage as the investigation revealed a cognizable offence.
Citing Supreme Court precedents, the court emphasised that it would be premature to intervene before the completion of the investigation. The judge further clarified that the court's observations are limited to the petition and would not influence the merits of the case.
The FIR was lodged at Boileauganj police station in Shimla by Congress MLAs Sanjay Awasthi and Bhuvneshwar Gaur. They alleged that Ashish Sharma and father of Chetanya Sharma, Rakesh Sharma, a former Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, played a central role in a conspiracy to destabilise the Congress-led state government.
The duo is accused of bribing MLAs and facilitating their stay in five- to seven- star hotels, as well as arranging helicopter transport for rebel legislators.
The controversy stems from the Rajya Sabha elections held on February 27, 2024. Despite holding a majority with 40 MLAs in the 68-member Assembly, Congress suffered a shocking setback when six of its members and three independents cross-voted.
This resulted in a tie between Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and BJP's Harsh Mahajan, who eventually won through a draw of lots.
The fallout led to a political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, prompting the BJP to claim that the Congress government had lost its majority.
In response, the Speaker disqualified the six rebel MLAs under the anti-defection law. By-elections were held for nine seats, and Congress managed to regain its majority with 40 seats, stabilising the government.
Meanwhile, an SIT led by ASP Navdeep Singh is probing the horse-trading allegations. Ashish and Rakesh Sharma have been summoned multiple times for questioning. With the FIR upheld, the investigation would now proceed further, keeping the political atmosphere in Himachal tense and under scrutiny.
UNI ML RN
Tags: #RS elections horse-trading: HC dismisses plea to quash FIR against BJP MLA# ex-Uttarakhand CS
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