NEW DELHI: An FIR was registered at the Govindpuri police station in southeast Delhi in connection with the misuse of a govt vehicle belonging to Chief Minister Atishi for transporting election materials in Kalkaji. The complaint, filed by the returning officer of the constituency, alleged that CM had violated the model code of conduct. The returning officer also demanded that an FIR be registered against an executive engineer of PWD for misusing the vehicle. The Aam Aadmi Party perceived this as “blatant misuse of power” targeting the party ahead of the assembly elections.
The returning officer of Kalkaji said his office received a complaint on Jan 8 about a govt vehicle being used for political purposes in violation of the election model code of conduct. The complainant explained, “The general administration department of Delhi govt issued a letter on Jan 7, stating that there would be a total ban on the use of official vehicles for campaigning, electioneering or election-related travel during elections.” The complainant said that an FIR should be registered against the executive engineer who used the vehicle to ferry election materials to Kalkaji. After an inquiry, a case under Section 223 (a) (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered.
BJP had complained to the Election Commission about the alleged misuse of a Public Works Department vehicle in the Kalkaji area to transport election materials. The commission took note of the complaint and filed an FIR against the concerned executive engineer of PWD.
Calling it “blatant misuse of power”, AAP termed the action as “hypocritical”, “politically motivated” and done “without any investigation”. Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal posted on X: “Their leaders openly distribute money, sarees, blankets, gold chains, and create fake votes, yet no FIR is filed. But when it comes to Chief Minister Atishi, an FIR is immediately filed against her.”
He added, “AAP is fighting against the entire system. We need to join hands with the public to change and clean up this corrupt system. Both BJP and Congress are part of this rotten system.”
Atishi also reacted to the development. Speaking to the media, she said, “The entire country has witnessed this, as highlighted by TV channels. Parvesh Verma openly distributes Rs 1,100 each to people. Women have come forward on television, stating that they were given Rs 1,100 to vote for the lotus symbol. Yet, the Election Commission finds no violation of the model code of conduct in any of this.”
The CM expressed concerns about the integrity of the electoral process, citing double standards in the treatment of complaints against BJP leaders and AAP’s functionaries. “Money, spectacles, and bedsheets are being distributed blatantly. This raises a critical question: whose side is police on? It also prompts us to ask whether lower-level election officers are under pressure,” she said.
In his post on X, former deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, “Police are theirs, the choice is theirs, the FIRs are theirs. That’s why when BJP leaders openly distribute cash, blankets, sarees and create fake voters, violating the law, no FIR is filed. But when it comes to the CM, an FIR is filed.”
