Sonepat court summons Kejriwal on Feb 17 over ‘poison in Yamuna’ remark   

A Sonepat court on Wednesday summoned AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on February 17 on a plea about his remarks accusing the BJP government in Haryana of "poisoning" the Yamuna river.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Goyal sought a reply from Kejriwal and asked him to appear in person before the court.

"In view of the aforesaid provision, let notice to respondent Arvind Kejriwal be issued for February 17. If he does not appear before this court on this date, it will be deemed that he has nothing to say in the matter and further proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with law," the court ordered on a petition filed by the Haryana government through the State Disaster Management Authority against Kejriwal under Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act.

The complaint filed by Ashish Kaushik, executive engineer, Rai Water Works in Sonepat, alleged that Kejriwal spread misinformation and caused panic among the residents of Delhi and Haryana.

The complainant said that on January 28, a crowd comprising residents of villages near the Yamuna river gathered on the premises of the Irrigation Department in Sonepat and demanded an explanation as to why the Haryana government had “poisoned” the Yamuna.

When asked about the source of the information, they presented a video clip circulating on social media, the plea said.

In the clip, Kejriwal is seen claiming that the Haryana government had “poisoned” the Yamuna and that it was detected on time due to the vigilance of Delhi Jal Board officers, thereby preventing harm to people.

The petition demanded that Kejriwal be summoned, prosecuted and punished under Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act and Sections 353 (public mischief) and 356 (defamation) of the BNS.