Supreme Court to Hear Suresh Gopi's Challenge Against Kerala High Court Ruling

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Suresh Gopi's Petition

New Delhi, July 27 - The Supreme Court has agreed to review a petition filed by Union Minister Suresh Gopi, who is contesting a ruling from the Kerala High Court related to the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The High Court had previously refused to dismiss a petition challenging Gopi's election from the Thrissur constituency.

Details of the Case

Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe have issued a notice to Binoy A.S., a resident of Thrissur and leader of the All India Youth Federation, who challenged Gopi's election in the High Court. Gopi, the sole BJP MP from Kerala, is contesting the April decision of the High Court, which stated that Binoy's election petition was valid and directed the Minister of Tourism and Petroleum to face legal proceedings.

Allegations Against Gopi

Gopi has argued that the election petition is not valid. However, the High Court dismissed his plea, stating that the allegations in the petition warranted a hearing. Binoy's petition claims that Gopi, along with his election agent and associates, engaged in corrupt practices under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. He accused Gopi of misusing religious symbols to entice voters, promising gifts like mobile phones to secure votes, and being depicted in social media videos offering money to voters.

Gopi's Political Journey

Transitioning from actor to political leader, Gopi aims to break the BJP's long-standing political drought in Kerala during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He won the Thrissur seat by a significant margin of 74,686 votes.