Rouse Avenue Court Allows Plea Seeking FIR Against Arvind Kejriwal Over Alleged Fund Misuse

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday directed registration of an FIR against AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders for allegedly misusing public funds to put up large party hoardings in Dwarka in 2019.

Background

The case originates from a 2019 complaint accusing Kejriwal, former AAP MLA Gulab Singh, and Dwarka Councillor Nitika Sharma of using public funds for political advertising.

Initially, in September 2022, a metropolitan magistrate dismissed the complaint. However, the sessions court later overturned this decision and directed the magistrate to reconsider the case.

Court’s Ruling

Following instructions from Special Judge Vishal Gogne, the magistrate has now entertained a fresh plea seeking the registration of an FIR.

In January, Special Judge Gogne noted that the previous dismissal order failed to determine whether the alleged offence was cognizable. The latest petition, filed under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, empowers the magistrate to direct the police to register an FIR and investigate cognisable offences.

The police have been instructed to submit a compliance report on the matter by March 18.