A Mumbai court on Friday acquitted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and seven others in connection with a case in which they were accused of organising a political rally without permission in the city.
Acquitting the accused, Metropolitan Magistrate PK Deshpande reportedly said that the Mumbai Police had failed to give a written statement citing their denial of permission for a rally that was held before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Besides the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, other prominent names acquitted were of activist Medha Patkar and Meera Sanyal. Except Patkar, all others were present for the hearing.
According to reports, all of the acquitted have to execute a personal bond of Rs 15,000 in cash.
Kejriwal had on 20 January 2018, surrendered a bail bond of Rs 10,000 and a surety at the Kurla magistrate court.
All were booked under various provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act pertaining to holding public rallies without prior permission from the police.
The rally was held in north east Mumbai’s Mankhurd as part of the poll campaign of AAP candidates Sanyal and Patkar.
In its complaint against Kejriwal and others in March 2014, the Mumbai Police accused Kejriwal and others of holding an “unscheduled” rally without prior requisite permissions from the traffic police.
(With inputs from agencies.)