'The MP adopted corrupt practices to get elected and distributed gifts among the electorate,' the counsel charged. The petition cited comparative charts of rates charged by newspapers for publishing advertisements.

The petition charged that Maken spent over Rs.1.5 crore on hoardings alone, which is contrary to his claim that he spent Rs.eight lakh on them. The minister claimed to have paid over Rs.80,000 to leading English dailies for the advertisements which was again not true, the petition alleged.

Meanwhile, another bench of the court dismissed another petition seeking the setting aside of the general elections 2009 on the ground that the BJP's manifesto was communal and it be de-barred from taking part in any elections.