New Delhi, February 12 (HS): Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has refused to take cognizance of the chargesheet filed against Somnath Bharti in the case of going to the counting place and doing videography and checking the polythene packets of polling agents during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neta Mittal said that carrying a mobile phone to the polling place or doing videography is not a crime as long as it does not affect the secrecy of casting vote.

According to the prosecution, Somnath Bharti went to a polling station during the counting of votes in Delhi on May 25, 2024 and did videography there. He also checked the polythene packets of polling agents at the polling place. After watching the video, the court said that the video is not of the polling place, but it is of the polling premises. No EVM is visible in the video. In such a situation, no crime is made out against the accused.

The court said that there is no mention anywhere in the charge sheet that the accused returned to the same booth from where he was removed. In such a situation, no allegation is made under Section 132 and other provisions of the Representation of the People Act. The court said that according to the rules, the mobile phone of the accused could have been seized by the presiding officer or other officer. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP's Bansuri Swaraj won the New Delhi seat by defeating Aam Aadmi Party candidate Somnath Bharti.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar