Court to consider criminal complaint against Kejriwal tomorrow

A court here will tomorrow consider a criminal complaint filed against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly giving "misleading information" in his affidavit filed before a poll panel in recently-concluded assembly elections.

The complaint, filed by an NGO, alleged Kejriwal had "willfully misled" the Election Commission of India (ECI) by concealing his correct address and suppressing the market value of his property.

The plea came up for hearing before a magisterial court today and the court fixed it for tomorrow for consideration.

"At the request of counsel for the complainant, be listed for consideration on February 5," Metropolitan Magistrate Vijeta Singh said.

The petition was filed by NGO Maulik Bharat Trust, through its office bearers, alleging "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.

In its petition filed before the high court, the NGO had alleged Kejriwal violated the provisions of Representation of People Act by submitting an incorrect affidavit, regarding details of his assets and income at the time of filing his nomination papers.