The Bombay High Court on Tuesday quashed the summons issued to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal by a magistrate in Goa’s Mapusa on a complaint lodged by the Election Commission of India (ECI) against him for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct in 2017.
Nonetheless, the relief to the Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor is only temporary as the High Court has asked the Magistrate to decide the matter afresh from the stage of summons. The order was passed by the division bench of Justice MS Sonak and Justice Valmiki SA Menezes. However, a detailed copy of the judgment is yet awaited.
Advocate Amit Palekar and AAP’s Goa President took to social media platform X to inform on the development. He added that the matter pertains to a speech given by Arvind Kejriwal during the 2017 Goa Election. The AAP Goa President added that the Bombay High Court has held that the relevant provisions of law were not followed before the issue of summons.
Reportedly, AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is facing a case related to an alleged violation of the model code of conduct in 2017 elections in Goa. The Aam Aadmi Party supremo allegedly told the voters during an election rally to accept cash from all other political parties but to vote only for the AAP.
Subsequently, a case was registered against him for violating Section 123 (1) of the Representation of the People Act, Section 171 B and Section 171 E of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Delhi Chief Minister was initially asked to appear on November 29 last year, which he failed to heed and instead sought exemption.
Arvind Kejriwal led party fought the Goa assembly election in 2017 and 2022. It drew a blank in 2017, while it won two seats in 2022.
The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for February 12.