"Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Singh have taken their legal battle to the Gujarat High Court, challenging the decision of Additional Sessions Judge JM Brahmbhatt to uphold the summons issued against them. This summons is related to allegations of defamation concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic degree [Arvind Kejriwal vs Piyush Patel].
The duo, represented by advocates Aum Kotwal and Farrukh Khan, filed an appeal contesting the rejection of their revision applications by Judge Brahmbhatt on September 14. In a comprehensive 21-page order, Judge Brahmbhatt had upheld the magistrate court's issuance of the summons, finding no illegality or perversity in that decision.
The case revolves around a defamation complaint filed by Gujarat University against Kejriwal and Singh, accusing them of tarnishing the university's reputation. The politicians allegedly made derogatory remarks about the university's failure to disclose Prime Minister Modi's degree.
The magistrate court, based on the university's complaint, summoned Kejriwal and Singh in April of this year. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Jayeshbhai Chovatiya, in his April 17 order, deemed the statements by Kejriwal and Singh as prima facie defamatory, taking into account digital evidence such as Kejriwal's tweets and speeches following a Gujarat High Court judgment. This judgment had allowed the university to withhold Prime Minister Modi's degree and imposed a ₹25,000 fine on Kejriwal.
The ACMM noted that Kejriwal and Singh, as educated political office-bearers, were well aware of the impact their statements could have on the public. The ACMM emphasized that when political office-bearers prioritize personal animosity or self-interest over their duty to the people, it breaches the trust of the public."
TAGS: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Sanjay Singh Gujarat High Court summons defamation case PM Modi degree appeal Additional Sessions Judge revision application Gujarat University derogatory statements magistrate court ACMM digital evidence tweets speeches High Court judgment political office-bearers public trust.
