Madras High Court Dismisses Plea Challenging Election Of DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran In 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Justice Anand Venkatesh dismissed the plea filed by Advocate ML Ravi, who had also contested the election from the same constituency for Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi. The court also allowed a plea filed by Maran seeking to delete certain parts of the election petition.

In his plea, Ravi claimed that the election to the Chennai Central constituency was not free and fair and alleged that there were corrupt practices during the election. He thus sought to declare the election to the constituency null and void.

Ravi alleged that even after the campaigning period ended on 17^th April 2024, Maran's party continued to advertise through all major newspapers in the State which was in violation of Sections 123 and 126 of the Representation of Peoples Act. He added that even though there were clear instructions from the Election Commission to maintain Section 126 strictly in letter and spirit, the party continued to release and publish advertisements in the daily newspapers to influence and induce the voters.

It was also alleged that the expenses incurred for making these advertisements and stickers were not accounted or reflected in the election expenditure accounts submitted by Dayanidhi Maran. It was also pointed out that Maran had suppressed the expenditure incurred on the Polling Day booth agents.

Ravi argued that as per Section 77(1) of the Representation of Peoples Act, the candidates had to mandatorily keep a separate and correct account of all the expenditure incurred or authorized by him or his election agent between the date of his nomination and the date of declaration of results and such declared amount shall not exceed the amount prescribed under the Act. He added that in the present case, the expenditure incurred by Maran was much above the prescribed limit, which was a corrupt practice under the Act.

Ravi thus alleged that Maran had flouted all the laws that were brought in to ensure a free and fair election. Thus, he sought to declare the election null and void.

Opposing the plea, Maran argued that Ravi had failed to provide details of the alleged violations. It was submitted that the affidavit itself was vague and unsubstantiated. He had also sought to delete certain paragraphs from the election petition stating that it was not backed by any supporting materials. It was submitted that though the petitioner claimed that the expenses on advertisements and stickers were unaccounted for, the stickers did not contain Maran's name. He thus claimed that the expenses were not incurred by Maran and that he had followed all the procedures as per the law. 

Case Title: ML Ravi v Election Commission of India and Others

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 92

Case No: ELP 2 of 2024