The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Delhi Court on Monday summoned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia for July 16 in a criminal defamation complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijender Gupta.
Gupta, who is the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, had accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders of “maligning” his image by accusing him of attempting to kill Kejriwal. Gupta has claimed in the complaint that due to widespread circulation of tweets and news reports on the statement of the two AAP leaders, his reputation was harmed for which they have not expressed any remorse or apologised.
“The allegations of the accused persons were “prima facie defamatory” and referred to Gupta,” said Samar Vishal, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate.
There exists sufficient ground to proceed against the respondents...Accordingly, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are summoned for commission of offence of defamation under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code,” the court said.
Gupta has alleged that the statements of the accused were made with “ulterior motives” to harm his reputation, malign his image and gain some cheap political mileage in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
