The Delhi High Court on Wednesday exempted Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani from appearing before a trial court in a defamation case filed by Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam.
Justice Suresh Kaith granted exemption to Irani, who was to appear on August 1.
The high court posted for August 13 the plea of Irani against summons issued to her to appear in court. The court of a metropolitan magistrate had issued orders on June 6.
Appearing for Irani, senior advocate Maninder Singh and Anil Soni sought to quash the trial and the summoning order on the grounds that the case is "false".
Nirupam, a former MP, alleged that on December 20, 2012, when Gujarat's assembly poll results were announced, Irani had made "defamatory and scurrilous comments" against him during a TV debate.
Irani too had also filed a similar complaint against the Congress leader for allegedly defaming her during the same debate aired on a private news channel.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app