Kejriwal govt spent Rs 42 lakh in ads over MCD claims

A court here was on Saturday told that Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government had spent over Rs 42 lakh by giving advertisements in 20 newspapers which allegedly misled people by claiming that municipal corporations are not under state's control.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Munish Markan was informed by the petitioner that in an RTI reply, Delhi government has admitted that a total expense of Rs 42,01,405 was incurred in giving advertisements to the newspapers on October 30, 2015.

The counsel for complainant Brijesh Shukla argued that public money was wasted for "spreading lies" and people were "misled".

The court fixed October 18 for hearing further arguments on the complaint.

The complainant has sought direction to the SHO of Karawal Nagar police station in North East Delhi to register an FIR against Kejriwal under Section 406 (criminal breach of trust) of IPC.

The complaint has claimed that Kejriwal had come out with full-page advertisements in newspapers in October last saying there were misunderstandings regarding a strike by MCD employees and he wanted to make it clear that it was wrong to say that the corporations come under the Delhi government.

"In November 2015, I filed an RTI with Delhi government which in its reply has said that the corporations are under its control. Action should be initiated against him (Kejriwal) for misleading people and spending public money for spreading lies," the complainant has said.

Shukla claimed he had also filed complaints to the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Lieutenant Governor seeking lodging of FIR against Kejriwal for allegedly misappropriating public fund.

He claimed that no action was taken by the police on his complaint.