MOHAMMAD ZIYAUDDIN
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A court in Delhi on Tuesday directed the Delhi Police to register an FIR against AAP leader and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others over allegations of misusing public funds for putting up large hoardings across the national capital.
Court's Ruling
In her order, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Neha Mittal stated:
"This court is of the considered opinion that the application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. deserves to be allowed. Accordingly, the concerned SHO is directed to register an FIR immediately under Section 3 of the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007, and any other offence that appears to have been committed from the facts of the case."
What Are the Allegations?
The case stems from a complaint filed in 2019, which accuses:
- Arvind Kejriwal (then Chief Minister)
- Gulab Singh (then Matiala MLA, AAP)
- Nitika Sharma (then Dwarka A Ward Councillor, AAP)
The complaint alleges that the three deliberately misused public money by installing large-sized hoardings at various locations, violating the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007.
What Happens Next?
With the court's direction, the police will now:
- Register the FIR and begin a formal investigation.
- Examine the hoardings and financial records to determine if public funds were misused.
- Question those involved and assess whether additional charges apply.
This development comes amid increasing scrutiny of government expenditures and political advertising in public spaces. AAP has not yet responded to the court’s directive.
