PM Modi Degree Row: Gujarat Court Refuses To Quash Summons To Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh In Defamation Case

Ahmedabad Sessions Court on Thursday rejected a revision application filed by the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh, who challenged a magistrate order summoning them for making allegedly defamatory statements concerning the academic degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Additional Sessions Judge JM Brahmbhatt refused to quash the summons issued against the two in an order pronounced in the open court.

The case pertains to a defamation complaint filed by the Gujarat University against Kejriwal and Singh for allegedly defaming the varsity.

The University sued the 2 politicians for allegedly making derogatory statements against it over not disclosing the degree of Prime Minister Modi.

Based on the University’s complaint, a magistrate court, in April this year, summoned the 2 politicians.

In the April 17 order, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jayeshbhai Chovatiya stated that the statements made by Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh were prima facie defamatory.

Furthermore, the ACMM passed the order after taking note of oral and digital evidence shared in a pen drive, which comprised Kejriwal’s tweets and speeches made after a judgment of the Gujarat High Court in the matter.

The High Court, its judgment, allowed an appeal filed by the University and held that the varsity need not disclose Prime Minister Modi’s degree. The High Court also imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on Kejriwal.

Taking note of these facts, the ACMM opined that the accused politicians were well-educated political office-bearers who were aware of the effect of their statements on the public.

The ACMM added while issuing the summoning order, if political office bearers, instead of fulfilling their duty to their people, do any work for their personal enmity or selfishness, it is considered a violation of the trust of the people.

Kejriwal and Singh challenged this summoning order before the sessions court through advocates Aum Kotwal and Farrukh Khan, respectively.

A detailed copy of the order is yet to be made available.