Allahabad High Court issues notice to PM Modi over his election from Varanasi

The Allahabad High Court on Friday issued notice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a petition, filed by former BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav, challenging his election from Varanasi parliamentary constituency. Justice MK Gupta has fixed August 21 for hearing of the case.

Tej Bahadur Yadav was fielded by Samajwadi Party candidate from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat but failed to contest the election as his nomination papers were rejected by the returning officer after he failed to submit a certificate that he was not sacked from the BSF for either corruption or disloyalty.

Yadav, in his petition, alleged that his nomination paper was wrongly rejected and requested the court to declare null and void Modi's election as a member of Parliament from Varanasi.

After hearing the petitioner's counsel who argued that Yadav was not given an opportunity of being heard before rejection of his nomination papers, the court issued a notice to the prime minister.

Yadav was dismissed in 2017 after he posted a video online complaining about the food served to the troops.