Supreme Court Dismisses Plea To Reject Ex-TN CM O Panneerselvam's Election Petition Against MP Navas Kani's Win In 2024 LS Polls

The Supreme Court today(July 21) dismissed a special leave petition filed by MP K Navas Kani, of the Indian Union Muslim League, challenging the Madras High Court's order dismissing his pleat to reject the petition filed by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam challenging MP Kani's victory in the June 2024 Lok Sabha polls on grounds of suppression of facts. 

By an order dated April 21, the Madras High Court dismissed an application filed by MP Kani under Order VII Rule 11 CPC against the election petition filed by the former CM against Kani's victory from Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency.

The election petition alleges that MP Kani received loan of Rs. 91,75,000 from his son when the total income of his son for the five previous financial year was less than Rs. 20 lakhs. Further, that MP Kani has not allegedly disclosed that he is a Director of a private ltd companies and has received renumerations from those companies. 

The High Court stated that these allegations cannot be brushed away as being bereft of facts or material particulars and therefore, requires deeper examination. Therefore, it has to undergo trial.

The matter was heard by a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi which refused to interfere with the high court's order calling that the high court adopted a "balanced approach".

While the Counsel appearing for MP Kani submitted that the High Court nowhere explains if the suppression has affected the voters, Justice Bagchi orally stated that such suppression affects as to the worthiness of the candidate. 

Case Details: NAVASKANI K v O. PANNEERSELVAM AND ORS|SLP(C) No. 18726/2025