NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today said it would record pre-summoning evidence from March 10 on a criminal complaint filed against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly giving “misleading information” in his affidavit filed ahead of the assembly elections.
Metropolitan Magistrate Swati Katiyar heard the arguments of the counsel appearing for the petitioner, an NGO, and posted the matter for March 10.
“Submissions heard. Record perused. Put up for pre- summoning evidence on March 10,” the court said.
The complaint, filed by NGO Maulik Bharat Trust, through its office bearers alleged that Kejriwal had “willfully misled” the Election Commission of India by concealing his correct address and suppressing the market value of his property.
During the hearing today, advocate Rahul Raj Malik who appeared for the NGO, argued that the affidavit was filed by Kejriwal before the competent authority at Jam Nagar house here which falls under the jurisdiction of this court.
The court, after hearing the submissions, said that it would record the pre-summoning evidence on the next date of hearing.
The petition alleged “willful concealment and suppression of correct address and value of the aforesaid property amounts to commission of a criminal offence under section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 punishable with six months of imprisonment and/or fine or both”.
“The aforesaid facts and circumstances clearly make out a case of blatant violation, suppression, misleading facts and information not only from the electors but also from Election Commission of India…,” the petition said. Earlier, the NGO had approached the Delhi High Court with a plea seeking quashing of nomination papers of Kejriwal on the ground of “illegalities” in his affidavit filed before the poll panel.
The high court had refused to entertain the plea and directed the petitioners to approach a magisterial court for the remedy.
The NGO in its petition before the high court had alleged that Kejriwal violated provisions of the Representation of People Act by submitting an incorrect affidavit regarding details of his assets and income at the time of filing his nomination papers.–PTI
