Defamation complaint against Kejriwal to come up on Aug 16

A court here on Saturday fixed August 16 for further hearing of a criminal defamation case filed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders after noting that the matter is pending in the High Court.

The court adjourned the matter after Kejriwal's counsel submitted that its earlier order, refusing to stay proceedings in the criminal defamation case, has been challenged in the Delhi High Court and the order is expected on July 21.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Dass, who was told that Jaitley and Kejriwal could not appear on Saturday because of official work, put up the matter for the next date after the complainant's counsel said he had no objection if the matter was heard after the High Court's decision.

The court had on May 19 dismissed accused's plea seeking stay of the proceedings in the current criminal defamation case, after which they approached the High Court.

Jaitley had filed the criminal defamation complaint alleging that Kejriwal and the five AAP leaders — Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh, Kumar Vishwas, Raghav Chadha and Deepak Bajpai — had allegedly defamed him in Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) controversy.

A civil defamation suit has also been filed by Jaitley before the Delhi High Court in relation to the matter seeking Rs 10 crore in damages.