The Delhi High Court has upheld the trial court’s decision to name Arvind Kejriwal and others as accused. | File Photo
The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to dismiss the defamation case against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his comments on the alleged removal of names from electoral rolls.
The petition challenged the ongoing defamation proceedings in the trial court, initiated by Delhi BJP leader Rajeev Babbar. Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta dismissed the petition and upheld the trial court’s decision to name Kejriwal and others as accused.
Background of the defamation case
Babbar accused Kejriwal and AAP leaders of defaming the BJP by claiming that the party was responsible for deleting 3 million names from Delhi’s electoral rolls, affecting communities like Baniyas and Muslims.
In February 2020, the Delhi High Court stayed the defamation case against Kejriwal and other AAP leaders.
AAP leaders sought quashing of two court orders – the magisterial court order of March 15, 2019, and the sessions court order of January 28, 2020.
The Rajeev Babbar defamation case targeted Kejriwal and AAP leaders including Sushil Kumar Gupta, Atishi Marlena and Manoj Kumar, alleging that their allegations against the BJP caused reputational damage by implying that the party was behind voter suppression.
Earlier in July, AAP leader Atishi Marlena faced a defamation case filed by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor over allegations of “capturing” AAP legislators. Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Marlena in the matter.
Babbar claimed that the statements made by AAP leaders were intended to damage the reputation of the BJP by targeting specific voter groups including Bania, Poorvanchalis and Muslims, causing irreparable damage to its reputation.
In 2020, Kejriwal moved the Delhi High Court, arguing that the defamation complaint was unsustainable as it was vague and did not specify the “aggrieved person”.
In February 2020, the apex court had noted that the allegations made by Kejriwal and others were prima facie defamatory and specifically referred to the BJP.
Babbar maintained that the voters’ list is under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission, not the BJP.
First published: September 2, 2024 | 17:27 IS
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