Delhi Court discharges Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal & Ors in Rail Bhawan Protest case

The Court of Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar at the Rouse Avenue Court Complex has discharged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others in a criminal case arising out of the dharna held at Rail Bhawan in January 2014..The Court has also discharged deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Rakhi Birla and Somnath Bharti..Earlier this year, the Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate had framed charges against Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Rakhi Birla and Somnath Bharti for the commission of offences under Sections 143/145/188 IPC and under Sections 147/186/353/332 IPC read with Section 149 IPC. .The Trial was subsequently stayed by the Special Court under its Revision jurisdiction..The protest at Rail Bhawan was organized in 2014 to demand action against police officials who had refused to raid an alleged drug and prostitution racket in South Delhi..The FIR in the case was registered against Arvind Kejriwal and others for knowingly flouting the prohibitory order issued under Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure and forming an unlawful assembly which created hindrances and obstructions to the duties of the police..As per the FIR, Kejriwal’s office was duly informed about the promulgation banning any protest, dharna, speech and assembly of more than five persons in areas near the North Block. A request was also made to him to protest at Jantar Mantar instead..Nonetheless, the protest was organized near Rail Bhawan, ultimately resulting in a physical altercation between the police and the protesters. Subsequently, a chargesheet was filed against Kejriwal and others.