New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court today reserved its order on the city government's plea challenging the trial court's order for registration of FIR against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for alleged misuse of government funds for an advertisement campaign ahead of 2008 assembly polls.
Justice Sunil Gaur, who had granted stay on the operation of the special court's order on September 3, reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from the parties and said "till then the interim order to continue".
The court also asked the counsel for parties to file written synopsis within a week's time.
The court was hearing Delhi government's plea seeking quashing of trial court's August 31 order, directing the city police to register an FIR against Dikshit on the complaint of Vijender Gupta, senior BJP leader, alleging the Chief Minister had misused government funds to the tune of Rs 22.56 crore in an advertisement campaign ahead of the 2008 assembly polls.
Appearing for Vijender Gupta, senior counsel Sanjay Jain questioned the locus of Delhi government in the case for filing the revision against the lower court's order.
"Chief Minister is the functionary of the Delhi government and it has no business to file a case like this," the lawyer said.
He also claimed that his client has followed all procedure before approaching the special judge for registration of a criminal complaint against the CM.
The lawyer countered the government's argument that President has rejected the recommendations of Delhi Lokayukta in his report, saying, "Lokayukta is a toothless tiger in India.... The trial court in its order has said a cognisable offence can be made out."