Panaji, Feb 3 (IANS): A trial court here will, on February 8, hear a case involving alleged election code of conduct violation by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in January last year.

The over and year old case was registered as a non-cognisable offence at the Mapusa police station following a complaint by the assistant returning officer, shortly after Kejriwal on January 8, 2017, in four speeches delivered during election campaign rallies in Goa, had exhorted voters to accept money from rival political parties, but vote for his Aam Aadmi Party instead.

After nearly a year after being registered as a non cognisable offence, state poll officials in December 2017, had approached the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mapusa, Shantashri Sinai Kudchadkar to issue directions to the state police to register the offence as an FIR under sections 171 B (inducement) and 171 E (bribery) of the Indian Penal Code.

On February 8, the trial court will hear arguments from the state public prosecutor vis a vis registration of the offence as an FIR against Kejriwal with cognisable sections.