Court summons Kirti Azad as accused in defamation case

Suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad was today summoned as accused by a Delhi court in a criminal defamation complaint filed by an advocate who alleged that derogatory language was used against him by the ex-cricketer in an e-mail to the BCCI ombudsman and others.
The advocate claimed that Azad had sent an e-mail to several persons on September 15, in which it was alleged that the complainant used to file false cases to impress Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) officials and others.
Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra sought presence of Azad before the court on May 19 next year, saying prima facie offences under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of IPC are made out against him.

"The complete reading of e-mail shows that the complainant is depicted in the negative shade for (allegedly) filing a false case to overawe DDCA officials and other persons. From the content of the e-mail, prima facie ingredients of sections 499/500 of the IPC are disclosed. Accordingly, Kirti Azad be summoned for the offences under sections 499/500 of the IPC for May 19, 2017," the magistrate said.
The court said that from the language of the e-mail, it was clear that several derogatory expressions have been used in it.
Advocate Gautam Dutta, who is the complainant the matter, sought Azad's prosecution saying that the former cricketer had sent an e-mail to the BCCI ombudsman and others levelling allegations against him.

He claimed that the e-mail was widely circulated on WhatsApp and it has harmed his reputation.
The court also examined several witnesses in support of his complaint.