Plea seeks Kejriwal's prosecution for defaming Modi

A complaint was filed on Tuesday in a court here seeking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal be prosecuted for making defamatory and seditious remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Metropolitan Magistrate Yogesh Singh would hear the matter on January 4.

The complaint filed by lawyer Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi said Kejriwal, being an educated person and holding a very responsible post, has intentionally made such defamatory and seditious comments with a view to spread a sense of hatred towards the prime minister and the government and the comments cannot be given protection under the right to freedom of speech and expression.

On Dec 15, Kejriwal had called Modi "a coward and a psychopath", after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the office of his principal secretary on the allegations of corruption.

The lawyer sought direction from the court to "summon, try/prosecute and punish the accused (Kejriwal) in accordance with law for committing the offences punishable under sections 124A (sedition), 500 (punishment for defamation)" of the Indian Penal Code.

"Such conduct of the accused has also a potential of letting down the image of the country in global relationships," said the plea.