The Orissa High Court made a decisive move on Monday by annulling the election of Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim from the Cuttack-Barabati Assembly constituency.

The decision stemmed from allegations that Moquim failed to provide comprehensive details regarding the criminal cases against him in the affidavit during the filing of his nomination papers.

This significant ruling came in response to a petition filed by BJD senior leader and former Cuttack-Barabati MLA, Debasis Samantaray.

Mohammed Moquim secured victory in the 2019 election by defeating Samantaray, his nearest rival.

Subsequently, Samantaray challenged Moquim’s election from the Cuttack-Barabati Assembly in court.

In a petition submitted on July 3, 2019, Samantaray contended that Moquim had omitted crucial information regarding pending criminal cases in the prescribed affidavit format while filing his nomination papers for the Cuttack-Barabati Assembly constituency.

Additionally, Samantaray alleged that Moquim had not fully disclosed details about his assets and liabilities.

Samantaray, a Rajya Sabha member from the Biju Janata Dal, pursued these claims.

Moquim had previously approached the high court seeking to dismiss Samantaray’s petition challenging his election from the Cuttack-Barabati Assembly constituency.

However, Orissa High Court dismissed the Congress law-maker’s plea.

In response to Orissa High Court’s decision, Moquim, a first-time MLA, told The Telegraph: “I am consulting with my legal team to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.”

The Congress MLA also added: “However, I will contest the 2024 election from the Cuttack-Barabati Assembly constituency on a Congress ticket. The high court has not barred me from contesting the 2024 elections.”