FIR lodged against former Delhi CM Kejriwal for ‘defacing’ public property

Delhi Police have lodged an FIR against former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others for allegedly violating the Public Property Act by putting up large hoardings in the National Capital.

The case pertains to a complaint filed in 2019, claiming that Kejriwal, along with other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, had “misused” public funds by installing large hoardings in the Dwarka area of the city.

The complaint was filed by one Shiv Kumar Saxena, who alleged that large hoardings featuring AAP’s Kejriwal, Gulab Singh and others were unlawfully put up in various public spaces across Dwarka.

The banners, he claimed, violated the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007.

Some of these posters advertised Delhi Government initiatives, while others extended greetings for religious festivals, featuring multiple political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders.

Initially, a status report filed in 2022 by the Dwarka South Police Station had concluded that no hoardings were found at the locations mentioned in the complaint at the time of the investigation. Consequently, the Metropolitan Magistrate of Dwarka Court dismissed the case on September 15, 2022.

However, Saxena pursued a revision petition before the Rouse Avenue Court, which allowed the plea and directed a fresh hearing.

During subsequent proceedings, the sessions court ordered a reconsideration of the application under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), emphasising the necessity of a speaking order that evaluates whether a cognisable offence had been committed.

On March 11, the court ordered registration of an FIR in the matter.

The police today filed a compliance report in Rouse Avenue court and informed that an FIR has been registered.

The matter is listed for the next hearing on April 18.