The Bombay high court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by former TADA detenu and Republican Party of India candidate from Ulhasnagar Suresh alias Pappu Kalani against his namesake.
A bench comprising Justice A P Shah and S U Kamdar said the high court could not intervene since the electoral process had begun.
Suresh alias Pappu Kalani, the RPI candidate who has been winning the Ulhasnagar assembly seat for the last three elections moved the court after another candidate adopted his 'identity'.
Kalani was caught unawares when another candidate from the same constituency, in a swift move, got his name changed and adopted the three time MLA's name.
Ramkirpal Yadav, an independent candidate, filed his nomination on his original name. Later, he submitted a gazette before the local electoral office and got his name changed to Pappu Kalani on September 22, the last day for withdrawal of nominations.
Kalani alleged that Yadav got his name changed in order to create confusion among voters and alleged that it has been done with the specific purpose of misguiding voters and bagging votes on his name.
