A local court in Goa has issued a notice to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal regarding his bribery remarks during Goa assembly elections. Yesterday the Judicial Magistrate First Class of Mapusa town near Panaji has issued the notice and fixed the next hearing on February 8th, 2018.
According to reports, his statement was,“If Congress or BJP candidates offer money, do not refuse it. Accept it as it is your own money and there is nothing wrong in getting it back. If they do not offer money, go to their offices and ask for it. But, when it comes to voting, press the button against the name of the AAP candidate.” The statement had sparked a row during the elections. After his statements were made, the Election commission had ordered the police to file an FIR against Kejriwal.
In December 2017, the returning officer had approached the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Mapusa with a plea that an offence under section 171 (B) (inducement to voters) and 171 E (bribery) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) be registered against Kejriwal.
During the assembly elections in Goa last year, AAP had fielded Elvis Gomes as the chief ministerial candidate and had contested in 39 out of 40 seats.
This was not the first time the Delhi CM had made such remarks. In January 2015, speaking at a rally at West Delhi’s Nawada area, he had made similar statements to the public. There he was speaking support of AAP’s Uttam Nagar Assembly candidate Naresh Balyan. At that time both BJP and Congress had severely condemned his statements saying it was an insult to voters and also to the authority of the Election Commission.