Bombay High Court Summons BJP MP Narayan Rane

The Bombay High Court has summoned BJP MP Narayan Rane in response to an election petition filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vinayak Raut, who is challenging the validity of Rane's victory in the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency during the recent Lok Sabha elections. Raut, who lost by a margin of 47,858 votes, claims that Rane won through fraudulent practices, including a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and vote-buying activities conducted by his supporters. Raut has requested the court to annul Rane's election, prevent him from contesting or voting for the next five years, and conduct fresh elections in the constituency. The hearing is scheduled for September 12, where Rane will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations. Raut's petition cites a video as evidence of electoral malpractices, which he claims breaches the Representation of People Act of 1951. Additionally, Raut has called for the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the alleged misconduct.