Sheila Dikshit will have to defend herself in graft case: Delhi High Court

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today said former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will have to defend herself in a graft case and did away with Delhi government pursuing the appeal filed by her administration in 2013 against the trial court order for lodging an FIR against her.

Days before resigning, the Arvind Kejriwal government had on February 14 (when it resigned) moved the High Court seeking to take back the appeal filed by then Congress government headed by Dikshit.

Dikshit had moved the High Court opposing the plea of the Kejriwal government and had also sought her impleadment in the matter.

Justice Sunil Gaur allowed the petition filed by the AAP government that the state should not pursue the appeal and at the same time permitted Dikshit to be impleaded as a party and she be substituated as a petitioner in the main petition challenging the trial court order.

"Upong hearing both sides on these applications, I find that in the main petition seeking quashing of order dated August 8, 2013 and August 31, 2013 is sought. Vide order of August 8, 2013 a fresh report was sought from concerned SHO in the complaint case regarding steps taken in pursuance to the complaint made to the concerned SHO and vide order of August 31, 2013 a direction has been issued to register FIR on the complaint of June 6, 2013 against known and unknown persons.

"It is apparent from the complaint in question that prosecution of Shiela Dikshit, the then Chief Minister of Delhi, was sought in the complaint in question on the basis of report of Lokayukta," Justice Sunil Gaur said.

"In above background, application of the petitioner-state (AAP) is allowed and petitioner is permitted not to pursue this petition. However, in the facts and circumstances of this case, application of Dikshit is allowed and she is substituted as petitioner in the main petition," it added.

AAP government had said Dikshit will have to defend herself as she is no more the CM and the government lacked the "locus standi" to fight for her.