India, Sept. 26 -- The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition challenging the election of Mahendra Thorve, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA from Karjat, during the 2024 assembly elections.

The plea had been filed by independent candidate Sudhakar Parshuram Ghare, better known locally as Sudhakarbhau, who had lost to Thorve by 5,694 votes. Ghare had alleged corrupt practices, intimidation of supporters, and manipulation of the poll process.

Thorve countered that the charges were vague, unsupported by evidence, and did not constitute a valid cause of action under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. He urged the court to dismiss the petition at the threshold.

Among the allegations made, Ghare claimed that sarees wi...