2009 Lok Sabha polls case: Trial against Chidambaram to continue

Chennai: The case against Home Minister P Chidambaram in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections will continue as the Madras High Court quashed his petition on Thursday. Chidambaram had alleged that the plea filed against him by AIADMK leader Raja Kannappan was not valid.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court allowed most grounds on which the petition challenging Chidambaram's election was filed. Two of the grounds challenging Chidambaram's election have been struck down by the Madurai court.

One of the grounds struck down is that the bank employees appointed by Chidambaram were put on duty at election booth and the probe against them has been struck down.

AIADMK leader Kannappan had accused Chidambaram\'s supporters of corrupt practices and manipulation of votes.

Chidambaram's election was challenged on 29 grounds.

Chidambaram won his election from the Sivaganga constituency in 2009 by a narrow margin against the AIADMK's Raja Kannappan. Kannappan had accused Chidambaram's supporters of corrupt practices and manipulation of votes.

Kannappan, in his petition filed on June 25, 2009, had alleged that Chidambaram's election 'deserved' to be declared void due to 'manipulation' of votes and 'corrupt practices' committed by him, his election agents and others, with his consent.

He had also sought recount of the votes polled in the entire constituency, particularly in the Alangudi Assembly segment.

(With additional information from PTI)

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