Chief Justice Orders Investigation Into Missing Election Evidence Pen Drive
The Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed a formal probe into the mysterious disappearance of a crucial pen drive containing election-related video evidence. This pen drive was part of the official court records pertaining to a significant election petition filed by Congress leader Karan Singh Dalal. Dalal's petition challenges the election victory of Haryana minister and BJP candidate Gaurav Gautam as MLA from Palwal constituency in the 2024 Haryana assembly elections.
Court Informed of Ongoing Inquiry
Information regarding this high-level inquiry was presented before the bench of Justice Archana Puri on March 27. The court was officially notified that an inquiry officer, specifically posted within the High Court administration, is actively investigating the loss of the pen drive. This investigation was initiated following direct orders from the Chief Justice himself, and the inquiry remains ongoing and pending as of the latest court hearing. The next hearing in this matter has been scheduled for April 30, where further developments are expected to be reviewed.
Background of the Election Dispute
Gaurav Gautam, contesting as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, secured victory in the 2024 Haryana assembly elections by defeating Congress rival Karan Singh Dalal by a substantial margin of 33,605 votes. Unwilling to accept the result, Dalal subsequently filed an election petition in the High Court, leveling serious allegations of corrupt practices against Gautam.
Dalal's petition specifically accuses Gautam of appealing for votes in the name of religion, misusing religious events during the official campaign period, and exerting undue influence on voters. To substantiate these grave allegations, Dalal submitted various pieces of evidence along with his petition, including the now-missing pen drive. He has sought the court to disqualify Gautam for a period of six years based on these charges.
The Disappearance and Legal Proceedings
While the election petition was pending before the High Court, the court's registry formally informed Dalal that the pen drive, which was a part of the official court records, could not be located or traced. In response, Dalal submitted a formal written complaint before the registrar of the High Court, highlighting the loss of what he described as primary electronic evidence.
According to the details outlined in his complaint, the missing pen drive contained critical videos directly related to the election campaign and constituted the fundamental electronic evidence supporting the allegations in his election petition.
Gautam's Legal Challenge and Supreme Court Intervention
In a parallel legal move, Gaurav Gautam filed an application before the High Court seeking the outright rejection of Dalal's petition. His application argued that the petition lacked the necessary material facts required under Section 83 of the Representation of the People Act. Furthermore, Gautam contended that Dalal's allegations were excessively vague, particularly those involving the use of terms like 'Sanatan' and 'Hindutva'. His legal team argued that merely using words associated with religion cannot constitute corrupt practices without specific, detailed factual backing.
However, in a detailed order dated November 28, 2025, the High Court dismissed Gautam's plea for rejection. The court held that allegations of corrupt practices under the Representation of the People Act are serious matters that warrant a full trial for proper examination. The bench also ruled that Dalal's petition does contain sufficient material facts and cannot be thrown out at this preliminary stage for an alleged lack of cause of action.
Following this High Court order, Gaurav Gautam approached the Supreme Court of India. On January 8, the Supreme Court issued an order staying the High Court's November 28, 2025, ruling, effectively putting the proceedings on hold pending further review by the apex court.
