HC stays till Sept 19 order of FIR against CM Sheila Dikshit

Dikshit was accused of allegedly misusing government funds in 2008 assembly polls

The Delhi High Court today stayed till September 19 trial court's order for registration of FIR against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for alleged misuse of government funds in 2008 assembly polls.

Justice Sunil Gaur, who had reserved the order yesterday on the Delhi Government's plea seeking quashing of trial court August 31 order, deferred the matter till September 19, saying "till then status quo as of today in respect of FIR in question be maintained".

In its order, the court said the Lokayukta's May 22, 2013, report is under consideration of President of India, therefore, the question of investigation can be addressed after hearing the arguments at length from both the parties.

The high court had yesterday asked BJP leader Vijender Gupta and Delhi Police Commissioner to respond by September 19 to the state government's plea against the trial court's order for lodging FIR against Dikshit and other officers for alleged misuse of public funds in an advertisement campaign ahead of 2008 assembly polls.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Delhi government, had contended that Gupta, while filing the complaint against Dikshit and seeking registration of FIR, has relied only on Lokayukta report otherwise there is no material against her and the officers directly.

Opposing the plea, Gupta's counsel had questioned the locus standi of the government, saying the Chief Minister was not here and how the State was affected by the trial court's order.