Court frames charges against Kejriwal in defamation case

A court here Monday framed charges against Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation case filed against him by an aide of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for his alleged “derogatory remarks” against her during protests against the power tariff hike.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Sanjay Bansal fixed Jan 18 for recording of evidence in the case.

The court, framing charges against Kejriwal, said prima facie defamation charges are made out against him and put him on trial after he pleaded not guilty.

Pleading not guilty, the AAP leader said the complainant is not an aggrieved person and the complaint against him is false.

Dikshit’s political secretary Pawan Khera had filed a defamation case against Kejriwal for allegedly making “derogatory remarks” and “baseless” allegations against her last year during protests on power tariff hike.

He accused Kejriwal of using “false and filthy” language against Dikshit in a television show.

Kejriwal, however, had opposed the complaint saying it had been filed by Khera, and not by Dikshit.

He had admitted the allegations levelled against him but said if Dikshit was defamed, then she should have filed the defamation case herself.

The AAP leader had said Khera has no locus standi to file the case as he had not said anything against the political secretary, and only an aggrieved person can file a defamation complaint.

However, the court on Oct 26 had said it would decide after trial the plea of Kejriwal questioning the locus standi of Dikshit’s political secretary in filing the defamation case.

IANS