BJP appeals to Delhi HC to quash Kejriwal, Bharti's election for exceeding poll expense limit

Two leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- Vijendra Gupta and Aarti Mehra-have filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the state's Law Minister, Somnath Bharti, for allegedly exceeding their poll expense limit.

They have appealed to the court to cancel the election of Kejriwal and Bharti.

Senior advocate and BJP's legal cell in-charge Satya Pal Jain said that under the Representation of People's Act, no person contesting elections can exceed the existing limit of Rs.14 lakhs.

"In both the petitions, it is said that Arvind Kejriwal, on 23rd November during his election campaign, organized a program in Jantar Mantar, and the expenses were in crores. The election expenditure disclosed by Kejriwal does not include this amount. He had submitted records stating that he has spent 4 lakhs," he told media here today.

Jain further said that spending beyond the proposed expenditure is an offense, and added that the High Court can declare their elections illegal, and can stop the candidate from contesting elections for the next six years.

"In both these petitions, we have appealed to the High Court to dismiss Arvind Kejriwal and Somnath Bharti's nomination. We have submitted the petition today, and this will be presented before a judge in the coming weeks," he added.

AAP had organized a concert on November 23 last year at the Jantar Mantar, which saw a number of artists participate, including Vishal Dadlani and Rabbi Shergil, and was attended by over 1200 people.

However, AAP leaders have maintained that the concert did not cost Rs. 22 lakhs, and the artists performed free of cost.