Bangalore, July 16: Karnataka High Court today upheld the election of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda in the by-poll from Kanakapura Lok Sabha constituency, dismissing a petition challenging his election. The petitioner B N Krishnamurthy, a voter from Uttarahalli Assembly constituency, which is part of Kanakapura Lok Sabha constituency, had challenged Gowda's election on the ground that the candidate had indulged "in corrupt practices" and prayed for declaring the election as "void and illegal." Justice R V Raveendran after recording the evidence of the parties and hearing the counsels observed that the petitioner had not established that the victorious candidate was guilty of indulging in any corrupt practice. The judge dismissed the petition with costs of Rs 5,000.

The by-election was held last year. Bureau Report