Delhi court exempts CM Kejriwal from personal appearance for Saturday in case of evading ED summons
New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court on Saturday granted exemption to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from personal appearance for the day in connection with a complaint filed by the ED against him over non-compliance with its summonses in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra granted relief to Kejriwal after the AAP leader appeared before the court via videoconferencing and urged for exemption from physical appearance for the day.
Kejriwal told the court that he was unable to appear before it due to the ongoing Budget session of the Delhi Assembly.
ALSO READ: CM Kejriwal moves motion of confidence in Delhi Assembly
Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Ramesh Gupta told the court that the Delhi chief minister will appear before it in person on the next date of hearing.
The court has adjourned the matter to March 16.
In its complaint, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that the Delhi chief minister intentionally did not want to obey the summonses and kept on giving "lame excuses". If a high-ranking public functionary like him disobeyed the law, it would "set a wrong example for the common man ie the "Aam Aadmi", the agency said.
From the contents of the complaint and the material placed on record, prima facie offence under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is made out and there are sufficient grounds for proceeding against the accused Arvind Kejriwal, the judge had earlier said.
"Accordingly, issue summons to accused Arvind Kejriwal for the offence under Section 174 of the IPC for February 17, 2024," the judge had added.
Section 174 of the IPC relates to non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant.
The ED on February 3 filed a fresh complaint case against Kejriwal for non-compliance of its summonses.
The AAP convenor had earlier written to the ED, describing the summonses issued to him as "illegal and politically motivated". He had alleged that the summonses were aimed at preventing him from campaigning in elections.
VIDEO | Here's what advocate Ramesh Gupta said on Delhi court granting exemption to CM Arvind Kejriwal from personal physical appearance for Saturday in case of evading ED summons.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 17, 2024
"Today, (Delhi CM) Arvind Kejriwal was supposed to appear in person to the summons issued to him.… pic.twitter.com/w88HHej76R
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
12-year-old boy sexually assaulted by two classmates, class 10 student in Faridabad
Faridabad (PTI): A student of class 8 here was allegedly sexually assaulted for several days by two of his classmates and a student of class 10, police said on Saturday.
Based on a complaint of the victim's father, police have registered a case against the three juveniles under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Saran Police Station.
According to police, the 12-year-old boy, studying in a government school, was leaving the premises to go home when he was lured by two of his classmates and another student of class 10 to the school bathroom, where they sexually assaulted him.
Following this, the accused students allegedly assaulted him for several days.
The boy's father noticed changes in his son's behaviour and asked him about it. He narrated his ordeal to the father who then approached the police.
Two of the accused students live in the same village as the victim, police said.
A senior police officer said, "We have initiated the necessary legal procedures. Counselling is being provided to the victim, and the entire matter is being investigated seriously. Further action will be taken based on the investigation."
