Court posts DDCA's defamation case against Kejriwal on Feb 23

A court here on Monday posted for February 23 a criminal defamation complaint against state Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BJP's suspended parliamentarian Kirti Azad filed by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and its vice-president Chetan Chauhan.

Metropolitan Magistrate Jagminder Singh fixed February 23 for consideration of the defamation complaint.

Chetan Chauhan through his advocate Sangram Patnaik last week filed a defamation case against Kejriwal and Azad, accusing them of defaming the cricket association by passing "scandalous" remarks.

Referring to Kejriwal's interview to a news channel where he said that sexual favours were sought for selecting players, the complainant alleged that "false" charges were being levelled against the state cricket association.

The plea claimed that Kejriwal's "false" statements were immediately endorsed and repeated by Azad.

"The aforesaid actions of the accused (Kejriwal and Azad) have severely damaged the credibility and reputation of the complainant (DDCA) in the eyes of thousands of cricket lovers, citizens of India as well as internationally," the petition said.

"It has always been a serious apprehension, which has come true in the present case, where provocative statements, irrespective of their falsity, have entered the realm of the internet and social media, and are being republished and forwarded again and again, making it next to impossible to squelch the same. Therefore, the unwarranted conduct of the accused should not go unpunished."

The complainant has requested court to initiate proceedings against the accused.