New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, who is an accused in a defamation case filed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, told a city court on Monday that the threshold in political defamation cases was high and a political party may have lakhs of members, but all cannot file defamation complaint
Senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, who appeared for the Delhi Chief Minister, made the submission before Special Judge Vishal Gogne while arguing against the summon issued to Atishi by a magisterial court on a criminal defamation case filed by BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor.
Gupta argued before the court that complainant BJP leader was not a victim of defamation and was not defamed by Atishi as she made the alleged defamatory statement against the BJP.
Complainant BJP leader is not a victim of defamation: Atishi
“He (Kapoor) is not a victim of defamation. The appellant (Atishi) made statement against the BJP. If it is taken to be true, BJP is victim or aggrieved, can file a complaint… A political party may have lakhs of members, but all cannot file defamation complaint. In this case, the threshold is very high,” Gupta argued, news agency PTI reported.
Court on November 22 stayed proceedings against Atishi
The court will hear the arguments of the complainant BJP leader in the matter on December 16.
The special court had on November 22 stayed the proceedings against Atishi in the case before the magisterial court.
BJP leader Kapoor has accused Atishi, Kejriwal of defaming him
The BJP leader has accused Atishi and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of defaming him through her reported claim that the BJP approached several AAP MLAs with offers of cash to bring down the AAP government in Delhi.
Magisterial court issued summons to Atishi on May 28
The magisterial court had issued summons to Delhi Chief Minister in the criminal defamation case on May 28. The magisterial court, however, had refused to summon Kejriwal as an accused in the case.
Atishi was granted bail in the case on July 23 after she appeared before the court in pursuant to summons.
