The Gujarat court has recently rejected applications for an interim stay on trial by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh in a criminal defamation case.
The court presided over by sessions judge AJ Kanani, declined the requests of the AAP leaders for temporary suspension of trial proceedings in the criminal defamation case lodged by the Gujarat University.
The court issued its ruling and scheduled the next hearing for August 21, as per the request for a time by the respondent, Gujarat University, as stated by their legal representative Punit Juneja.
Kejriwal and Singh filed a revision application in the sessions court challenging the metropolitan court’s summons in the defamation case. They sought interim relief from the sessions court while their main application was pending.
However, the sessions court rejected their request, Juneja confirmed.
The metropolitan court summoned the duo to appear on August 11 in response to the summons issued against them in relation to the matter.
Juneja stated, “We had moved an application in the sessions court for interim stay on trial in criminal defamation case sessions going on in the metropolitan court here. The court on Saturday rejected our plea and kept the matter for August 21.”
The court denied interim relief, considering that the leaders already assured the metropolitan court of their presence on August 11.
Juneja disclosed that they intend to seek relief from the Gujarat High Court.
The metropolitan court issued the summons against Kejriwal and Singh after preliminary assessment revealed a potential case against them under section 500 of IPC.
Gujarat University Registrar Piyush Patel filed the defamation suit against Kejriwal and Singh. The suit pertained to their statements made following the Gujarat High Court’s annulment of a Chief Information Commissioner’s order regarding PM Modi’s degree.
The complainant stated, they made “defamatory” statements in press conferences and on Twitter handles targeting the university over Modi’s degree.
As per the complainant, the comments targeting Gujarat University were defamatory and also hurt the university’s prestige that has established its name among public.
He stated that, their statements were sarcastic and intended to intentionally hurt the prestige of the university.
The comments quoted by the complainant and attributed to Kejriwal are: “If there is a degree and it is genuine, then why is it not being given?”, “They are not giving degree because it might be fake,” and “If the Prime Minister studied at Delhi University and Gujarat University, then Gujarat University should celebrate that its student became the country’s PM,” etc.
Singh stated, “they (GU) are trying to prove the PM’s fake degree as genuine”.
The complainant stated, their statements would make a person believe that GU issues fake and bogus degrees.
