A Delhi court has ordered the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others over allegations of illegally putting up hoardings in Dwarka in 2019. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Neha Mittal passed the order based on a complaint filed by Shiv Kumar Saxena, who accused Kejriwal and others of violating the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property (DPDP) Act, 2007. The court also directed the Delhi Police to file a compliance report by March 18.
The complaint alleged that despite an earlier plea to the police, no action was taken against the illegal hoardings, prompting Saxena to move the court. He presented photographs with date and time stamps to support his claim. The court noted that defacement of property is a serious issue, affecting not just the aesthetic appeal of the city but also public safety, as illegal hoardings can pose risks to pedestrians and traffic.
The Delhi Police opposed the complaint, arguing that since the hoardings were no longer present and lacked details of the printing press, it would be challenging to trace their origin or determine who was responsible. The police also pointed out that Saxena had initially named multiple individuals, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his complaint, but later omitted several names while filing the court application.
However, the court rejected these arguments, emphasizing that it was the responsibility of the investigating agency to determine who was involved. The judge further criticized the police for failing to act earlier and stated that their claims about the non-existence of the hoardings appeared to be an attempt to mislead the court. The order directs the police to register an FIR under Section 3 of the DPDP Act and any other relevant laws applicable in the case.
The court’s decision reinforces the importance of holding public figures accountable for violations of municipal laws and ensures that issues like illegal hoardings are properly investigated. The case will now proceed with further police investigation as per the court’s directive.
