"Frivolous:" Delhi High Court dismisses PIL alleging AAP, Arvind Kejriwal have links with Khalistani separatists

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a public interest litigation petition by Congress leader Jagdish Sharma seeking a high-level inquiry against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that they have links with Khalistani separatists [Jagdish Sharma v Union of India and Ors]..A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla remarked that the petition was ‘completely frivolous’ and asked the counsel appearing for the petitioner to not file such petitions.“In your petition, you say that the authorities are cognisant of the letter of erstwhile Chief Minister of Punjab. Where is the question of us directing anything then? Please do not file such frivolous petitions,” the Bench remarked.The Court, therefore, imposed costs of ₹10,000 on the petitioner."In our view, this petition is completely frivolous, and does not call for any interference. We, accordingly, dismiss the same with token costs quantified at ₹10,000 to be deposited with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority, within four weeks," the Court said in its order..The Court said that petitioner himself has placed on record the purported correspondence between former Chief Minster of Punjab, Charanjeet Singh Channi and Home Minister Amit Shah and therefore, the Government of India as well as the Government of the State of Punjab are sensitized to the issue.Hence, there is no reason for court to assume that the authorities would not act in the matter, it was held..The plea was filed seeking an investigation into the allegations that AAP and its national convenor Kejriwal have links with a banned Khalistani organisation named Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), and have received funds from it as well.The petition had sought suspension of AAP’s recognition, and a ban on it from contesting any elections till the inquiry is complete.It referred to the letter written by former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjeet Singh Channi leveling the same allegations and Kumar Vishwas’ statement on the same lines.“That before the few days of election the speculation of funding by these separatist groups to Aam Aadmi Party and connection of these groups to Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal turned into reality when the close ally, friend of Shri Arvind Kejriwal and founding member of Aam Aadmi Party Shri Kumar Vishwas announced the connection of Shri Arvind Kejriwal with above mentioned separatist groups,” the petition said.It further stated that considering the seriousness of the letter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote to Channi assuring him of thorough investigation.Advocate Rudra V Singh, who appeared for the petitioner, said that despite this assurance and despite the Prime Minister expressing his concerns on the issue, no action has been taken on the letter as yet.“That despite the allegations being serious in nature and there may be a security threat to the country by this Aam Aadmi party and Party Chief Shri Arvind Kejriwal, no enquiry has been initiated by the Central Government,” the plea stated..[Read Order]