The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition from Kalawati, the mother of former AAP worker Santosh Koli, who sought to challenge a trial court’s refusal to register a First Information Report regarding her daughter’s death in 2013.
This case has raised allegations of a political conspiracy involving notable figures like former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and ex-AAP leader Kumar Vishvas.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna ruled against Kalawati’s plea, which aimed to invoke the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The High Court upheld the trial court’s earlier decision from 2023, stating that the evidence presented did not support the need for an FIR.
The judge noted that while the allegations pointed to a possible conspiracy to murder, they failed to demonstrate any caste-based discrimination or abuse that would necessitate action under the SC/ST Act.
Kalawati, aged 60, had argued that her daughter, Santosh Koli, was murdered as part of a politically motivated plot. Despite her attempts to file a complaint with the police, no FIR had been registered for murder or any offenses related to the SC/ST Act.
After the Additional Sessions Judge dismissed her application under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code on September 16, 2023, Kalawati pursued this revision petition.
In her petition, Kalawati described Santosh as a courageous individual who had been recognized with a Bravery Award by former President Abdul Kalam. She alleged that Santosh had been pressured into running for a seat in the Delhi Assembly elections, with specific individuals appointed by Kejriwal to support her campaign efforts.
The controversy surrounding Santosh Koli’s death stems from her tragic road accident in 2013, which her family believes was not an accident at all. They have accused the Aam Aadmi Party of failing to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Kalawati further asserted that Kejriwal was aware of the death threats her daughter received yet did nothing to protect her.
The court’s decision indicates that, despite Kalawati’s fervent claims, the legal framework didn’t support her allegations of caste-based offenses or a politically motivated conspiracy. This ruling serves as a reminder of the stringent legal criteria that must be met for an FIR to be registered, particularly under specific protective laws.
The family’s ongoing quest for justice highlights the complex intersection of politics and personal tragedy, as they continue to seek answers regarding Santosh Koli’s untimely death.
