FIR against Kejriwal: Alleged Fund Misuse | Aakhir Tak

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• Delhi court permits FIR against Kejriwal for alleged fund misuse.
• Case related to 2019 complaint about hoardings in Dwarka.
• Former AAP MLA and councilor also implicated.
• Metropolitan Magistrate previously dismissed the complaint.
• Police directed to file compliance report by March 18.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

In a setback to Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has approved a petition seeking an FIR against the AAP chief and others for allegedly misusing public funds to put up large hoardings in Dwarka in 2019. The court’s decision marks a significant development in the case and could have serious implications for Kejriwal and his party.

The case pertains to a complaint filed back in 2019, claiming that Kejriwal, along with former AAP MLA Gulab Singh and Dwarka Councillor Nitika Sharma, misused public funds by installing large hoardings across the area. The complaint alleges that these actions constituted a misappropriation of taxpayer money and violated established regulations. This highlights potential fund misuse.

In September 2022, a metropolitan magistrate initially dismissed the complaint. However, the sessions court overturned the lower court’s decision and sent it back to the magistrate for reconsideration. Following a special judge directing the magistrate court to decide the case afresh, the magistrate has now entertained a plea for an FIR to be registered in the case. The legal back-and-forth underscores the complexity of the situation.

On January, Special Judge Vishal Gogne said that the order passed by the magistrate dismissing the complaint earlier did not seek to find if the offence committed was cognisable or not. This observation raised concerns about the thoroughness of the initial investigation.

The fresh petition was filed under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), wherein the magistrate can direct the police to register an FIR and order a probe into a cognisable offence. The invocation of this section grants the police broad authority to investigate the allegations. This will be a Delhi police case.

The police have been directed to file a compliance report by March 18. This deadline adds urgency to the investigation and signals the court’s intention to expedite the proceedings. This is a major blow to Kejriwal and his party AAP.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

• Delhi court greenlights FIR against Kejriwal over alleged fund misuse.
• Case stems from 2019 complaint regarding Dwarka hoardings.
• Kejriwal accused of misusing public funds along with others.
• Police instructed to submit compliance report by March 18.
• The event poses a substantial challenge for AAP (Kejriwal).

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