Delhi HC exempts Kejriwal from appearing in defamation case

The Delhi High Court Thursday exempted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from personally appearing before a court here in connection with a defamation case filed against him by Amit Sibal, son of union minister Kapil Sibal, last year.

The order of Justice J.R. Midha came on a petition challenging the July 24, 2013 summoning order of the trial court against Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Prashant Bhushan and Shazia Ilmi on the ground that Amit Sibal was not the aggrieved party.

In the petition, the AAP had also sought to quash the criminal complaint filed by Amit Sibal against them.

In July last year, Amit Sibal filed the defamation case against Kejriwal and his party members for tarnishing his image and reputation by making false statements.

In a press conference May 15 last year, Kejriwal claimed the government was in favour of an "out of court" settlement in the Vodafone tax case which was being heard by the Supreme Court. Amit Sibal, an advocate himself, was representing Hutchinson in court.