Delhi Police File FIR Against Arvind Kejriwal Over Alleged Misuse of Public Funds
NEW DELHI, March 28 – Delhi Police have registered a case against former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others for allegedly misusing public funds for political advertisements in 2019, according to a police report submitted to a Delhi court on Friday.
The case, filed in compliance with a court order, accuses Kejriwal and two other former public officials—ex-MLA Gulab Singh and former Dwarka councillor Nitika Sharma—of violating the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act by putting up large hoardings in the capital using government funds. The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 18 after police requested additional time for investigation.
The complaint, originally filed in 2019, alleges that Kejriwal, Singh, and Sharma “deliberately misused public money” for political promotion through large-scale banners in various locations. On March 11, the court directed the police to register an FIR based on the complaint.
Kejriwal is also facing legal scrutiny in a separate money laundering case. He is currently out on interim bail after the Supreme Court granted him temporary relief on July 12 last year while referring key legal questions regarding arrests under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to a larger bench.
The former chief minister was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on March 21 and June 26 last year in connection with corruption and money laundering cases linked to Delhi’s 2021 excise policy. Authorities claim the policy was altered to benefit certain liquor license holders unfairly. The policy was scrapped in 2022 following an investigation order by the Delhi lieutenant governor.
The latest FIR adds to Kejriwal’s mounting legal challenges as courts continue to hear cases related to his tenure as Delhi’s chief minister.
