Delhi Court issues summon to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot in defamation case

After hearing a complaint under sections 499 and 500 Indian Penal Code(IPC) filed by Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in connection with a Rs 900-crore credit society scam, the court passed an order to issue a summon against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

It directed him to appear before the court on August 7.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal after hearing the complained case passed a 22 pages order and said, "Having considered the facts and circumstances, the testimonies of the complainant witnesses, the evidence placed on record, it prima facie appears that the accused has made specific defamatory statements against the complainant."

"Further, it prima facie appears that the aforesaid defamatory statements of the accused have been sufficiently published in the newspaper/ electronic media/social media, which may make the right thinking members of the society shun the complainant.

"It appears that the accused by his spoken words and by words which were intended to be read, have made defamatory imputations against the complainant, knowing and intending to harm the reputation of the complainant. At the cost of brevity, it is again specified here that the discussion here cannot be said to be a comment on the final merits of the case, as the same is a matter of trial," the order read.

"In view of the aforesaid discussion there exists sufficient grounds to summon the accused Sh. Ashok Gehlot under section 500 of the Indian Penal Code," the court said.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has filed a complaint before the District Court of Rouse Avenue and submitted that Gehlot defamed him and falsely accused him of being involved in the Rs 900 crore Sanjivani Credit Society scam.

He contended that his name did not appear anywhere when the Rajasthan government investigated the matter.

It is alleged by Shekhawat that  Gehlot, by way of press conferences, media reports, and social media posts, etc. has publicly stated that not only the Union Minister and his family members are accused in the Sanjeevani scam, but also that the allegations stand proved.

His counsel alleged that Gehlot has on different occasions addressed the media and has also uploaded videos and posts on his social media accounts in order to maliciously defame the complainant by way of false statements, particularly stating that the allegations against Shekhawat in the Sanjeevani scam stand proved.

Shekhawat requested the court that Gehlot be prosecuted for criminal defamation defined under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) and sought appropriate financial compensation for the loss of his reputation.