2014 rally case: Bombay HC denies Arvind Kejriwal exemption from appearance

The Bombay High Court on Friday refused to exempt Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from appearing before a magistrate court here tomorrow on a complaint lodged against him in connection with a rally last year. In March last year, the complaint was lodged against Kejriwal for holding a rally in suburban Mankhurd here without prior and requisite permissions from traffic police. Kejriwal had approached the high court seeking quashing of the FIR and exemption from appearing before the Kurla metropolitan magistrate court.

His lawyer Mihir Desai argued that Kejriwal had nothing to do with taking permissions and FIR can be registered against the local party member concerned. A division bench of justices R V More and V L Achiliya, however, observed that as the Aam Aadmi Party's chairperson, Kejriwal also held responsibility. The bench asked Desai to withdraw the petition and seek discharge from the case before the magistrate. 

Desai, however, said he would have to take instructions from the applicant (Kejriwal) on this and sought the court to at least exempt Kejriwal from appearing before the magistrate court tomorrow. "Let him (Kejriwal) appear tomorrow before the magistrate and take permanent exemption from appearance," the court said while adjourning the petition for hearing till December 11.