New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS): The Delhi High Court Friday directed the central government to file its reply on a PIL seeking registration of a criminal case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal and others for allegedly receiving foreign funds in violation of the law.

A bench of Justices Pradeep Nanrajog and V.K. Rao asked the government to place on record, by the next date of hearing (Oct 23), the inquiry report prepared by it earlier on a similar complaint against Kejriwal.

The court's direction came after Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra told it that the issue raised in the PIL have already been investigated and a report prepared by the government earlier and he would like to produce the same before this court.

Prashant Bhushan, appearing for one of the respondents in the case, contended that "the petition is malafide and in the earlier report also the government had not found anything against the civil society".

The plea was filed by advocate M.L. Sharma, who also sought seizure of accounts and funds secured by members of AAP.

"A direction to be issued to register a criminal case against the respondents (AAP members) under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and conduct of day-to-day trial proceedings with the supervision of the court, in the interest of justice," the plea sought, naming Kejriwal, advocates Shanti Bhushan and Prashan Bhushan and party member Manish Sisodia.

The plea said the FCRA prohibits funding from foreign countries for a political party.