Rail Bhavan protest: Court stays trial against CM, his deputy

NEW DELHI: A Sessions Court on Monday stayed an order to put on trial Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and AAP MLA Somnath Bharti in a case of allegedly violating prohibitory orders in the national capital and obstructing public servants during an agitation in 2014. Additional Sessions Judge Arun Bhardwaj issued notice to Delhi Police on a plea by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) politicians challenging a magisterial court's July 5 order by which charges were framed against them, paving the way for their trial.

In their applications filed by advocate Mohd Irshad, the AAP politicians had challenged the magisterial court's order, saying that it had erred in framing charges against them. "Issue notice of this criminal revision to the respondent... It is submitted that the matter is listed before the trial court for PE (prosecution evidence) on July 26. Till the disposal of this criminal revision, proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed," the sessions court said, posting the matter for further hearing on July 31.

The trial court had on July 5 framed charges against the accused persons, saying there was sufficient evidence to conclude that a prima facie case and "grave suspicion" was made out against them.

It had framed the charges after the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trail. It also framed charges against MLA Rakhi Birla. However, she has not challenged the magisterial court's order yet.