HC refuses to stay DCW summons against Kumar Vishwas

The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to stay Delhi Commission for Women's (DCW) summons for Kumar Vishwas issued on a volunteer's complaint alleging that her life was ruined since he refused to deny "rumours" over their alleged affair.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher said he cannot pass any order until the woman, who filed the complaint against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in the DCW, was made a party in the case here.

The court was hearing the plea of Vishwas, who said that DCW should not be dealing with the complaint, as it was outside the commission's jurisdiction.

Posting the matter for May 22, Justice Shakdher said: "I can't proceed in the matter until the person affected (the complainant) is being added in the plea."

"The woman has not withdrawn the complaint from DCW so she should be included in the petition here. How can you (Vishwas) move petition without making her a party here," asked the court.

Appearing for Vishwas, advocate and AAP member Somnath Bharti, argued that he was "wrongly summoned" and the decision of summoning him was outside DCW's jurisdiction.

DCW chairperson Barkha Singh issued the summons due to "political vendetta", he added.

Vishwas's plea also sought direction that the woman, an AAP volunteer, be restrained from giving public statements on the issue.

AAP has termed the allegations levelled by the woman as "baseless".

The woman, who had taken part in Vishwas's campaign in the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 general election, went public here asking Vishwas to deny "rumours" of their alleged affair. She later approached the DCW which summoned Vishwas.