HC sends notice to Kejriwal in defamation case

The Delhi High Court Friday issued notice to Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation suit filed by Congress parliamentarian Avtar Singh Bhadana against the former Delhi chief minister.

Bhadana, Lok Sabha member from Faridabad, Haryana, has sought a written apology and Rs.1 crore compensation from Kejriwal for "tarnishing my reputation in the eyes of my constituents".

Justice A.K. Pathak sought Kejriwal's response and posted the matter for May 6.

The plea said that Kejriwal in a public statement Jan 31 called Bhadana "one of the most corrupt persons of India".

The petition also sought a permanent injunction against Kejriwal restraining him from making any further allegations against the Congress parliamentarian before the Lok Sabha elections this year.

The plea said that Bhadana has served a legal notice to Kejriwal, seeking a written apology for the statement but the AAP leader has not apologised.

"The AAP leader made false and baseless allegations against respected leaders of various political parties, business houses and business institutions," the plea added.

Kejriwal, in a press statement Jan 31, said the AAP had drawn up a list of "dishonest politicians of the country" and would definitely field candidates against them in the parliamentary elections.