"Learned counsel for the petitioners seeks leave to delete respondent 2 (Modi). Leave to delete respondent 2 is granted," said justices S V Gangapurwala and V K Jadhav of the Aurangabad bench of the HC in their order on July 8.
Petitioner's counsel Pradnya Talekar sought time to file a rejoinder to the affidavits filed by respondents. The matter was adjourned to July 22.
According to the petition, at a campaign rally in Rahuri in Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra, Modi was presented with an unsheathed sword.
"The model code of conduct was operational from September 15 to October 21....Gifting/presenting of open swords, which is an arm, is in violation of the code of conduct and also the Bombay Police Act and Arms and Ammunitions Act," the PIL said.
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Also, at a rally in Kopargaon, swords were gifted to Aditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena and Snehalata Kolhe of BJP, it said.
It prayed for a direction to the Centre, the state government and the Election Commission to initiate an inquiry against senior police inspectors of Rahuri and Kopargaon for alleged negligence and a court directive to end the custom of gifting swords to political leaders at rallies.