The trial in the case started a few weeks back after Patel failed in his desperate attempts to stall the trial.
Congress turncoat CK Raulji, who is now a BJP MLA from Godhra, on Wednesday deposed before the Gujarat High Court for the trial in an election petition filed by BJP leader Balvantsinh Rajput against the Rajya Sabha poll victory of veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel.
In his deposition, he stated that he was threatened by the then Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Bharatsinh Solanki and Shaktisinh Gohil to cast his vote in favour of Patel, who was contesting the Rajya Sabha elections. Raulji, who appeared as a witness of Rajput in the case, also said he was asked to give the preferential vote to Patel and if he dares to defy the whip, he would be suspended for six years. He also said that he was told that he would not be able to contest the polls from any party, or even as an independent.
Raulji also said that the Congress leaders tried to lure him in favour of Patel. He said that he was promised an MLA ticket from Congress, if he voted in favour of Patel, and also that the latter would take care of his poll expenses.
The trial in the case is being carried out by a single judge bench of Justice Bela Trivedi. Former Congress MLA Amit Chaudhary is likely to depose before the court on Thursday. The trial in the case started a few weeks back after Patel failed in his desperate attempts to stall the trial. He had earlier moved the high court as well as the Supreme Court, questioning the maintainability of Rajput's election petition, but in vain.
Rajput has claimed, in his petition, that Patel had resorted to corrupt practices by bribing Congress party MLAs and exerting undue influence by issuance of whip by the party. He has questioned the Election Commission's decision to hold two votes invalid which were casted by Congress MLAs in his favour, and allowing the votes casted by Shailesh Parmar and Mitesh Garasiya in Patel's favour.
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 "Ahmed Patel, CK Raulji")
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