Mr S Prabakaran, Senior Advocate appearing for Mr Nainar Nagendran through video conferencings submitted that Mr. C. Robert Bruce wilfully and deliberately suppressed the existence of a pending criminal case, arising out of FIR registered in the year 2019. It was contended by Mr S Prabakaran that the said criminal proceedings were not disclosed in the nomination affidavit (Form 26) submitted by the returned candidate on 27.03.2024, in clear violation of Section 33A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951

[19/01, 21:55] Sekarreporter: On 19-01-2026, the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court heard a Writ Petition filed by Mr Nainar Nagendran, Member of State Legislative Assembly and the State President of Bharathiya Janata Party against Mr C Robert Bruce, Member of Parliament alleging Electoral Fraud and Suppression of Criminal Antecedents by the Returned Candidate in the General Election conducted in the year 2024.

A writ petition invoking Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India was heard by Hon’ble Justice Shyam Prasad of the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka, alleging grave violations of electoral transparency, constitutional morality, and abuse of the judicial process by the returned candidate and sitting Member of Parliament, Mr. C. Robert Bruce.

Mr S Prabakaran, Senior Advocate appearing for Mr Nainar Nagendran through video conferencings submitted that Mr. C. Robert Bruce wilfully and deliberately suppressed the existence of a pending criminal case, arising out of FIR registered in the year 2019. It was contended by Mr S Prabakaran that the said criminal proceedings were not disclosed in the nomination affidavit (Form 26) submitted by the returned candidate on 27.03.2024, in clear violation of Section 33A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 read with Rule 4A of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. It was further contended that the plea of ignorance advanced by the returned candidate is demonstrably false and drew the attention of the Court to the fact that Mr. C. Robert Bruce himself was Petitioner No.1 in Criminal Petition No. 512 of 2020 before the Karnataka High Court, wherein he had sought quashing of the very same FIR.
Mr S Prabakaran, senior counsel, stated that the pendency of the quash petition by itself conclusively establishes prior knowledge of the criminal proceedings. Further, senior counsel relied on an affidavit filed by the said returned candidate before the Karnataka High Court and contended that the incumbent MP has made submissions which require inquiry.

The Senior Counsel further submitted that the act of Mr. C. Robert Bruce personally filing pleadings and affidavits in the quash petition unmistakably reveals conscious knowledge, active participation, and deliberate awareness of the pending criminal case, thereby rendering the non-disclosure in the nomination affidavit intentional rather than inadvertent.

Reliance was also placed on legal notices issued to the concerned advocates, which allegedly demonstrate the returned candidate’s presence in the proceedings and his demand for a No Objection Certificate and relevant case files—facts which, it was argued, directly contradict his assertion of ignorance. It was further pointed out that in the year 2023, an arrest warrant had been issued against Mr. C. Robert Bruce in the same criminal case, wherein his contact details were duly recorded, indicating continued engagement with the judicial process and an alleged attempt to evade accountability.

The petitioner also brought to the notice of the Court a pending representation dated 06.01.2025, addressed to the Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court, seeking an inquiry into the matter, in respect of which no action has been taken thus far.

Upon hearing the submissions, the Hon’ble Mr. Justice B M Shyam Prasad expressed concern and sought a detailed investigation into the veracity and correctness of the affidavit filed by the respondent. The petitioner has consequently prayed for issuance of appropriate directions, including a direction for an independent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged acts of suppression, fraud, and perjury, contending that the matter strikes at the very root of free and fair elections.

Further, Hon’ble Justice Shyam Prasad expressed his opinion across the bar to Senior Advocate Mr S Prabakaran asking him to take advantage of the fraud committed in the general election, thereby concurring to the malafide and mischievous act committed by Mr C Robert Bruce and opined to utilise the same in the Election Petition pending before the Madras High Court.

Upon considering the submission of Mr S Prabakaran the Hon’ble court adjourned the matter to 30-01-2025 to produce further details regarding the pending quash petition.
[19/01, 21:55] Sekarreporter: 👍