Overview
- India’s top court stayed the March 10 Madhya Pradesh High Court order that voided Mukesh Malhotra’s 2024 Vijaypur bypoll win and declared BJP leader Ramniwas Rawat the MLA.
- Interim conditions block Malhotra from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh and withhold his salary and allowances as an MLA.
- Malhotra remains the sitting legislator for Vijaypur until the appeal is decided, with the case listed for July 23.
- The High Court had ruled he concealed pending criminal cases in his election affidavit, following a petition by Rawat that alleged more cases than disclosed.
- State Congress leaders praised the Supreme Court relief as validation of the voters’ mandate, and Malhotra pledged to continue constituency work despite the pay freeze.