Delhi court takes cognisance of Kailash Gahlot’s defamation plea against BJP’s Vijender Gupta

In his complaint, filed through advocate Dhruv Rohatgi, Kailash Gahlot has alleged that Vijender Gupta “intentionally and for malafide purposes” defamed him and tarnished his reputation to gain political mileage.

A Delhi court on Wednesday took cognisance of a criminal defamation complaint filed by Delhi transport minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kailash Gehlot against fellow legislator Vijender Gupta of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly making defamatory remarks about him over the procurement of 1,000 low-floor buses by the Delhi Transport Corporation.

On August 28, the Delhi high court declined to grant ex parte interim relief to Kailash Gahlot in his civil defamation plea (Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey fixed the matter to September 18 for examination of the complaint as part of the pre-summoning evidence.

In his complaint, filed through advocate Dhruv Rohatgi, Gehlot has alleged that Gupta “intentionally and for malafide purposes” defamed him and tarnished his reputation to gain political mileage.

He said Gupta levelled “defamatory, scandalous, mischievous, false and scurrilous allegations” verbally as well as in writing.

Responding to Wednesday’s proceedings in the court, Gupta said, “The Delhi government is filing cases in an attempt to save face amid allegations of corruption. They aren’t replying to the people on the charges. Today’s proceeding in the court was routine and the high court’s (earlier) order should be a lesson to them.”