Goa Police direct Arvind Kejriwal to join probe in property defacement case; Delhi CM says ‘will definitely go’

#WATCH | "I will definitely go," says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on summon by Goa's Pernem police asking him to appear for questioning on 27 April over a case of alleged defacement of public property https://t.co/eNpNhaAYFV pic.twitter.com/rS78suXRb4

— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023

The notice, issued to Kejriwal under section 41 (A) of CrPC, stated that during the investigation of a First Information Report (FIR), registered under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3 (penalty for defacement of property) of the Goa Prevention of Defacement of Property (GPDP) Act, lodged at Pernem police station in Goa, it was found that “there are reasonable grounds to question you to ascertain facts and circumstances from you, in relation to the present investigation”.

“Hence you are directed to appear before me on April 27 at 11 am at Pernem police station,” read the notice from Dilipkumar Halarnkar, PSI, investigating officer, Pernem police station, North Goa.

Failure to attend/comply with the terms of this notice can render you liable for arrest under section 41 A (3) and (4) of CrPC, the notice added.

Police sources said a notice was also issued to AAP Goa president Amit Palekar, directing him to join the investigation in the case.

A police officer said the case pertains to the defacement of public property against party leaders for allegedly displaying posters, hoardings and political banners of the party on public properties, including walls of underpasses, highways and roads, in the lead-up to the 2022 Assembly elections in Goa.

The police officer said, “Notices have been issued as part of the investigation in the case.”

A leader from the AAP Goa unit said they were unaware of the notices and only heard about them from the media.

In the lead-up to the coastal state poll, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had directed the authorities to take action against the AAP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) for allegedly defacing public and private properties by pasting posters of their respective parties.