Cuttack: In a major relief to Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, the Supreme Court Monday ordered an interim stay on the hearing of an election irregularities case currently sub judice in the Orissa High Court.
The HC in its October 9 ruling had rejected a miscellaneous petition filed by Bahinipati seeking quashing of the petition filed against his election. Subsequently, Bahinipati challenged the HC’s ruling in the apex court.
Taking up the petition, a bench of the apex court comprising Justices Rajesh Kumar Agarwal and Abhay Manohar Sapre has stayed the hearing on the primary petition filed against Bahinipati.
Notably, BJD candidate Rabi Narayan Nanda who unsuccessfully contested the 2014 election from Jeypore had challenged Bahinipati’s election in the HC alleging the legislator had furnished false information in the affidavit during filing of his nomination. Nanda appealed the HC to declare Bahinipati’s election null and void.
PNN
