What followed was a 12-year legal journey; and now, a landmark Supreme Court ruling that changes how *every* election in India will be policed. The court didn’t just rule on one man’s case; it issued 7 nationwide guidelines to stop black money from buying votes. Why? Because the court says: when someone pays you to vote, they’re not just bribing you; they’re stealing your right to choose. And that’s not just illegal. It’s an attack on democracy itself. The judges made it crystal clear; even if the money is hidden, even if no one admits who it’s for; any cash found with a candidate during voting season is treated as suspicious until proven otherwise. This is big. Not just for politicians. But for every voter who wants their ballot to matter; not their bank balance.