Court Slams Delay in Investigation Against Former AAP MLA

The Rouse Avenue court criticized the delayed police investigation regarding a charge sheet against former AAP MLA Rituraj Jha and others, citing inefficiencies and lack of proper inquiry. The court declined to take cognizance of the charge sheet for not establishing a clear offense under Section 188 IPC.

A court in Rouse Avenue has rebuked the delay in investigating charges against former AAP MLA Rituraj Jha and three others. The Delhi police filed a charge sheet nine months after an FIR was registered, leading to the court's rejection due to inadequate evidence and procedural flaws.

The case revolves around alleged disobedience of official orders and violation of a prohibitory order during a protest by Jha and MCD councillors, coinciding with the model code of conduct in March 2024. However, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal found no merit in the charges, ruling no offense was established as per the charge sheet.

The court criticized the involved officials, including the SHO and ACP, for failing to query the lengthy investigation without apparent reason. It stressed the need for swift trials, especially for political figures dealt with by special courts. The court also expressed concern over the investigative failures and recommended departmental scrutiny.