Supreme Court reserves verdict on plea to annul Asifabad MLA Kova Lakshmi’s election

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court has concluded hearings and reserved its verdict on a petition challenging the election of Asifabad MLA Kova Lakshmi. The case, filed by Congress candidate Ajmeera Shyam Naik, alleges that Lakshmi failed to disclose complete income tax information in her election affidavit.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Kotishwar Singh heard the matter at length on Thursday. The petition contends that Lakshmi submitted only one year’s income tax return with her affidavit instead of the required five, thereby concealing her financial records in violation of election disclosure norms.

According to Shyam Naik, such non-disclosure constitutes a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and should result in the annulment of her election.

The Congress candidate had earlier approached the Telangana High Court, which dismissed the plea on 25 October 2024 after a review by Justice K. Lakshman. Naik subsequently moved the Supreme Court on 21 November 2024, challenging that verdict.

With arguments now concluded, the Supreme Court will deliver its ruling in due course.