In a significant development, a court in Goa has dismissed the FIR filed against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal concerning his controversial statement made during the Goa Assembly elections in 2017. The statement, “Take money from everyone, but vote for the broom,” had sparked widespread criticism and led to legal troubles for the AAP leader.
Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently incarcerated in Delhi’s Tihar Jail due to the excise policy case, received a major relief as the Goa court found insufficient grounds in the FIR lodged against him. The FIR, filed at a Goa police station, was based on allegations of violating the Representation of the People Act and sections related to bribery under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case, which has been ongoing for almost seven years, originated from a public meeting where Kejriwal urged voters to accept money from all parties but to cast their votes for AAP, symbolized by the broom. This statement had been heavily criticized by opposition parties, leading to legal action against him.
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Despite the controversy in 2017, AAP’s presence in Goa has seen growth, with the party securing two seats in the 2022 Assembly elections, a marked improvement from their 2017 performance where they failed to win any seats.
This court ruling comes at a crucial time for Kejriwal, who faces legal challenges in Delhi related to the excise policy scandal. Last month, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from his residence, linking him to the alleged liquor scam.
