On Tuesday, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi directed authorities to register a fresh FIR against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders. The case pertains to the alleged misuse of public funds for political hoardings in Dwarka in 2019. The order comes amid an ongoing legal and political crisis for AAP, following their recent electoral defeat.
Background of the Case:
The allegations stem from claims that AAP used taxpayer money to fund large-scale party advertisements and hoardings, violating election and public funds regulations. The case was initially brought to attention in 2019 but has gained renewed traction following Kejriwal’s recent loss in the Delhi assembly elections.
This legal setback adds to Kejriwal’s existing troubles. Previously, he and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were arrested in connection with the controversial Delhi excise policy. The policy, implemented in 2021-22 and later scrapped, allegedly resulted in a ₹2,000 crore loss to the national capital’s exchequer, as per a CAG audit report.
Recent Political Developments:
This court order comes just weeks after AAP lost power to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi. Kejriwal himself faced a significant electoral defeat in the New Delhi constituency against BJP’s Parvesh Verma. His party, which had ruled the capital for over a decade, has been facing increased scrutiny, with multiple legal battles mounting against its leadership.
Current Status and Next Steps:
- The court has instructed authorities to proceed with registering an FIR and initiating further investigations.
- Kejriwal remains out on bail in the Delhi excise policy case but may now face additional legal hurdles.
- AAP leaders are expected to respond to the fresh FIR and may challenge the court’s order in a higher judicial forum.
With this latest development, the legal troubles surrounding AAP and Arvind Kejriwal are far from over. The case is expected to have significant political ramifications as well, potentially affecting AAP’s future electoral prospects.
