New Delhi, July 17 - Delhi High Court Friday sought responses from Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken and returning officer of the New Delhi parliamentary constituency on a petition stating that the election expenses of the Congress leader were much higher than the permissible limit.

'Issue notice to respondents (Maken and returning officer of New Delhi Parliamentary constituency) for Aug 21,' Justice S. Ravindra Bhat said.

The court's notice came on a petition, filed under the Representative of Peoples Act, seeking to declare Maken's election null and void on the ground that he violated the code of conduct by spending much more than the maximum limit of Rs.25 lakh.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for petitioner Adesh Gupta, said Maken had claimed to have spent around Rs.20 lakh in his election campaign, but he issued full page advertisements in various national and local dailies.