Former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday moved the Delhi High Court opposing the plea of the Aam Aadmi Party Government to withdraw an appeal filed by her dispensation against a lower court order. The lower court had ordered registration of an FIR against her in a corruption case.
“Permit applicant Sheila Dikshit to object to the withdrawal of application (filed by Aam Aadmi Party Government) and permit Ms. Dikshit to contest the present petition,” said the plea, which is likely to be taken up on Wednesday.
The previous Congress Government had gone to the High Court in September last year against a lower court order to register an FIR against Ms. Dikshit on a complaint of BJP leader Vijender Gupta. Mr. Gupta had alleged that her administration misused public funds to the tune of Rs.22.56 crore in an advertisement campaign ahead of the 2008 Assembly polls. The order was stayed by the High Court.
The Arvind Kejriwal Government had on February 14 moved the court seeking to take back the appeal against the decision of a lower court, saying that Ms. Dikshit will have to defend herself as she is no more the Chief Minister and the government lacked the locus standi to fight for her.
Opposing the move, Ms. Dikshit, in her plea, said: “The said act of the appellant/petitioner/ State is unconstitutional in as much as there has been no change in the facts and circumstances of the present case which has necessitated the State to file withdrawal application.”
Seeking the impleadment of Ms. Dikshit as a party, the plea, filed through lawyer Mehmood Pracha, said “the act of the State...would adversely affect the right of Sheila Dikshit as one of the affected parties”.
