Defamation case: HC seeks Jaitley’s reply on Kejri’s plea

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought the reply of finance minister Arun Jaitley on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea to stay the proceedings before

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought the reply of finance minister Arun Jaitley on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea to stay the proceedings before a trial court in a criminal defamation case filed against him and five other AAP leaders.

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Justice PS Teji issued notice to the union minister on the plea challenging the trial court’s May 19 order by which it had turned down the chief minister’s request to adjourn hearing on a criminal defamation case before it, till the high court decided the civil suit before it.

“Notice to the respondent (Jaitley). Let the reply to the petition be filed,” the court said, adding that “the matter is fixed for arguments on July 21”.

Kejriwal, who was represented through senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, submitted that there were two cases — one civil and the other criminal — filed against the AAP leaders on the same allegations and the trial court should have stayed the hearing in the matter, but had declined.

“The trial court in its order had said that it has no jurisdiction to decide the same and has listed the matter for arguments on July 16,” Jethmalani argued.