Page 26 - Aap Government

Swati Maliwal assault case: Court extends Bibhav Kumar's judicial custody

A court here on Saturday extended till June 22 the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar. Kumar is accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on May 13 at the chief minister's official residence. Kumar was produced through video conferencing before the duty metropolitan magistrate, who extended the custody and directed the Delhi Police to produce him on June 22. Earlier on Friday, the court had extended Kumar's custody by one day after noting that the investigating officer (IO) was not present. Kumar was arrested on May 18. He was sent to police custody for five days the same day by a magisterial court, which observed that his anticipatory bail plea had become infructuous because of his arrest. On May 24, he was sent to four days judicial custody, following which he was again remanded in police custody for three days. An FIR was registered against Kumar on May 16 under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including those related to ..

Excise scam: Delhi HC seeks ED stand on Chanpreet Singh's bail plea

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the bail plea by AAP volunteer Chanpreet Singh Rayat in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A vacation bench of Justice Amit Sharma issued a notice to the ED on Rayat's plea seeking regular bail and asked the agency to file a status report. The matter would be heard next on July 2. The ED had arrested Rayat, who allegedly managed cash payments for the AAP's 2022 Goa election campaign, on April 12. It has alleged that the 'South Group' comprising BRS leader K Kavitha, TDP's Ongole MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy and his son Raghav Magunta, businessman Sarath Chandra Reddy and others paid Rs 100 crore bribe to the AAP for obtaining a prime position in the Delhi liquor market as part of the now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. Out of these alleged kickbacks, the ED has claimed, Rs 45 crore was used by the AAP to fund its Goa election campaign. The excise polic

AAP leaders review LS poll results, pledge to work harder for next election

Senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders discussed the results of the Lok Sabha elections and pledged that they would work harder for the next general elections, a party leader said on Thursday. AAP fought at 22 Lok Sabha seats and managed to win just three in Punjab. Despite an alliance with the Congress in Delhi, it lost all the four seats it contested at the hands of the BJP. "AAP definitely got fewer seats than expected, but the game is not over yet. We will come with new energy in the next election," AAP general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said. He said that the decision of the people of Delhi was a top priority for the party. We acknowledged that "there must have been some shortcomings in our hard work" and pledged to work harder to win next time. Pathak said Assembly elections in Haryana and Delhi and by-elections in Punjab were the next goals of the party. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that the top party leaders, including national convener and Delhi Chief Minist

Delhi will not witness flooding this time, says Saurabh Bharadwaj

Delhi's Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday asserted the city would not get flooded this time because the Yamuna river will get a clear channel for its flow. Inspecting the ITO Barrage to take stock of the work to desilt the river, he said the Barrage is under the Haryana government's jurisdiction, and a flood happened in Delhi last year "due to blocking of its gates". "Pilot cuts have been made at the places of obstruction. As soon as water flows (with force) through the Yamuna, it will take away the obstructions. The Yamuna will get a clear channel. As the irrigation and flood control minister, I can say there won't be a flood this time," Bharadwaj asserted. Delhi battled one of its worst flood-like situations in several pockets last year because of heavy rain, with more than 25,000 people evacuated from the inundated areas.

'Never take us for granted': SC warns Delhi govt on water scarcity plea

AAP-led Delhi government had filed a plea seeking direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to mitigate water crisis in the national capital

Money laundering case: SC adjourns AAP MLA's arrest plea hearing to June 18

The Supreme Court on Monday deferred to June 18 the hearing on Punjab AAP MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra's plea challenging his arrest and remand by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering probe linked to a bank fraud case. A vacation bench comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Augustine George Masih adjourned the matter after noting that the AAP MLA had not filed a rejoinder in the case. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, submitted that the matter is about Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and sufficiency of grounds. He said the issues raised in this case are similar to that of the Arvind Kejriwal matter where judgment is already reserved. Senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary, appearing for the Punjab AAP MLA, contended that the issues are not similar and the reason for being remanded is primarily non-appearance. The apex court then sought to know whether pleadings in the matter were complete. On being informed that a ..

Swati Maliwal assault case: Police adds fresh section against Bibhav Kumar

The Delhi Police has added the IPC section for "disappearing evidence and giving false information" against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar in AAP MP Swati Maliwal's assault case, an official said on Monday. Kumar is accused of assaulting Maliwal at the chief minister's official residence on May 13. The official said Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was added in the case. Section 201 carries a provision for imprisonment of one-sixth of the punishment awarded for the biggest offence in the crime, he added. The FIR against Kumar was registered on May 16 under provisions of the IPC such as those related to criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe, and attempt to commit culpable homicide. Maliwal, a former chief of the Delhi Commission for Women, alleged that Kumar attacked her with full force, slapped and kicked her

AAP accuses Haryana's govt of negative politics, stopping its water supply

AAP on Monday again accused the BJP government in Haryana of negative politics and stopping water supply in the Yamuna, leading to a severe shortage in the national capital. Priyanka Kakkar, the AAP's chief national spokesperson, claimed during a press conference that 137 cusecs released by Himachal Pradesh following a Supreme Court order had yet to reach Delhi. The BJP government in Haryana has not only stopped Delhi's water from Himachal Pradesh but also reduced the national capital's share of 1,050 cusecs, according to an agreement between the two states, by 200 cusecs, she claimed. Kakkar said the Delhi government will put all these issues before the Supreme Court, which will hear the matter on Monday. The apex court on June 6 directed the Himachal Pradesh government to release 137 cusecs of surplus water available with it for Delhi and asked Haryana to facilitate the flow of this water so that it reaches the national capital. The Delhi government has during the past fortnight

AAP govt seeks SC approval to process DERC pro-tem members' appointment

The AAP government in Delhi is likely to approach the Supreme Court for its permission to process the file for appointment of pro-tem members to the city's power regulator DERC, official sources said on Saturday. The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) is a three-member body, that includes a chairperson. The posts of two members are lying vacant since last year. A committee formed by the Supreme Court has shortlisted the pro-tem members but their appointments were delayed as the Model Code of Conduct was in place for the Lok Sabha polls and because of the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in March, they said. The file for the appointment of pro-tem members is required to be sent by the chief minister for approval of the Delhi Lt Governor. As Kejriwal is in jail, file is pending, and the Delhi government wants to seek the court's permission so that the power minister forwards it directly for the Lt Governor's approval, the sources said. The Supreme Court in

AAP leaders take feedback from Delhi councillors after LS poll defeat

AAP leaders on Saturday took feedback from party councillors in Delhi on the Lok Sabha elections and resolved to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level. AAP failed to win a single seat in Delhi in the Lok Sabha elections. As part of a seat-share arrangement with its INDIA bloc ally Congress, AAP contested four seats while the grand old party fielded candidates from three. It was decided to further strengthen the organisation, said Durgesh Pathak, senior AAP leader and the party's Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in-charge. "AAP will continue to fight for the Constitution and democracy alongside the people of Delhi," he said, alleging that the Narendra Modi-led government is continuously doing injustice to Delhi. The meeting reviewed the results of the elections and decided on the party's future strategy. Sandeep Pathak, AAP's national general secretary (organisation), its Delhi unit convenor Gopal Rai, and other senior leaders attended the meeting. "The senior le

AAP to go solo in Delhi Assembly polls, no tie-up with Cong yet: Gopal Rai

Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi state convener Gopal Rai on Thursday said his party's alliance with the Congress was only for the Lok Sabha elections and hinted that the ruling party in the city will go solo in next year's Assembly polls here. After a meeting of party MLAs and senior leaders at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence here, Rai told PTI that the party gave full support to the INDIA bloc in the Lok Sabha polls. "The INDIA bloc was only for contesting the Lok Sabha polls. Several parties fought elections together and AAP was also a part of it. As of now, there is no alliance for the Delhi Assembly polls," he told PTI. The AAP-Congress combine drew a blank in the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, with BJP effecting a clean sweep on all seven parliamentary seats for a record third time.

Aam Aadmi Party to hold meeting of all its MLAs at CM's residence on Jun 6

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday said it will hold a meeting of all its MLAs in the evening. "The meeting will be held at the Chief Minister's residence in Civil Lines," the party said. This is the first such party meet since the rout of the AAP-Congress combine in the national capital Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is facing charges in an excise scam, before surrendering on Sunday after his bail was over had held a meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee and assigned roles to MLAs.

Assembly election result highlights: BJP returns in Arunachal, SKM in Sikkim after landslide victory

From the results of the state assembly elections of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh to Delhi CM Kejriwal's ending interim bail, catch all the latest news from around the world here

CM Kejriwal returns to Tihar; pays homage at Rajghat before surrendering

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Sunday he will surrender at Tihar Jail later in the day after paying obeisance at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at the Raj Ghat and the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place. Kejriwal was released from prison on May 10 on interim bail granted by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam to campaign in the Lok Sabha polls. The polls ended on June 1. "On orders of the honourable Supreme Court, I came out from prison for election campaign for 21 days. Many thanks to the honourable Supreme Court," he said in a post in Hindi on 'X'. "Today I will go to Tihar and surrender. I will leave home at 3 pm. First, I will go to Raj Ghat and pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. From there, I will go to Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place to seek blessings of Hanuman ji. And from there, I will go to the party office and meet with workers and party leaders. From there, I will leave for Tihar," the chief minister said. "All o

Going back to jail on June 2, they will try to break me again: Kejriwal

'I have to surrender on June 2 and I do not know how long I will stay in jail this time,' said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Swati Maliwal case: HC reserves order on Bibhav Kumar's plea against arrest

The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved order on the issue of maintainability of a plea by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar challenging his arrest in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal at the CM's residence earlier this month. The senior counsel, appearing for the police, opposed issuance of notice on the petition on the grounds that it was not maintainable. "Order reserved on maintainability," Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said after hearing the senior lawyers appearing on both the sides. Kumar, in his plea, has sought a direction to declare his arrest as illegal and in gross violation of the provisions of Section 41A (notice of appearance before police officer) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and against the mandate of the law. The Delhi Police's senior lawyer contended that the objection regarding compliance with section 41A has already been rejected by the trial court and the petitioner should, therefore, file a revision against

Going back to jail on Jun 2, they will try to break me, won't bow: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he will be surrendering on June 2 and asserted that he will not bow down even if he is harassed in jail. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court till June 1 for Lok Sabha election campaigning. After being released from jail, Kejriwal campaigned in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and Maharashtra. "I have to surrender on June 2 and I do not know how long I will stay in jail this time. I am going to jail for saving this country from dictatorship and I am proud of it," the chief minister told a virtual press conference. "They tried to break me. They stopped my medicines while I was in jail. My weight reduced by six kg after being arrested. My weight was 70 kg when I was arrested. I have not gained weight after coming out of jail," Kejriwal said. Doctors have advised several tests and "they feel this could be a sign of some underlying medical condition", he added. The chief minister said

Delhi govt moves SC seeking Haryana to release more water to capital

The Delhi government has moved the Supreme Court to seek a direction to Haryana to supply more water to the crisis-hit national capital, sources said on Friday. The AAP government in Delhi has told the top court that the water demand in the city has risen significantly due to heatwave conditions, and neighbouring Haryana be directed to release extra water for a month, they said. It is the responsibility of all to work towards fulfilling the water needs of Delhi, the city government said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday urged the BJP to ask its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to provide water to the national capital for a month. The national capital has been facing a severe water shortage and Water Minister Atishi has accused Haryana of not releasing Delhi's share of water.

Will send bulldozers from Uttar Pradesh to crush Punjab mafias: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said Punjab has turned into a "den of land, drug and sand mafia", and he would send bulldozers to crush these mafia groups if BJP comes to power in Punjab

Lok Sabha polls 2024: BJP will secure a hat-trick on June 4, says PM Modi

With an election rally for Anita Som Parkash, the BJP candidate from Hoshiarpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his election campaign