A Delhi court on Thursday summoned Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in a criminal complaint filed by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat seeking his prosecution for alleged defamation, saying the Congress leader made imputations “knowing and intending” to harm his reputation.
The metropolitan magistrate directed Gehlot to appear before the court on August 7 for allegedly defaming Shekhawat with his remarks on the alleged Sanjivani scam.
The case is related to thousands of investors allegedly getting duped of about ₹900 crore by the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society.
Shekhawat, the Union Jal Shakti Minister and MP from Jodhpur, has alleged in his complaint that Gehlot has been making defamatory remarks against him over the alleged scam and trying to tarnish his image and affect his political career.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal said the accused “prima facie” made defamatory imputations against the complainant, knowing and intending to harm his reputation.
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“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 newspaper/ electronic media/social media, which may make the right thinking members of the society shun the complainant,” the judge noted.
{{/usCountry}}“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 newspaper/ electronic media/social media, which may make the right thinking members of the society shun the complainant,” the judge noted.
{{/usCountry}}The judge also took note of the submission made by Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa, who represented Shekhawat, that the allegations in the complaint were supported by all complainant witnesses (witnesses backing the complainant's claim) during their deposition.
“It appears that the accused by his spoken words and by words which were intended to be read, has made defamatory imputations against the complainant, knowing and intending to harm the reputation of the complainant... Ergo, in view of the aforesaid discussion there exists sufficient grounds to summon the accused Ashok Gehlot,” the judge said.
Shekhawat has alleged in his complaint that Gehlot, by way of press conferences, media reports and social media posts etc. publicly stated that the union minister and his family members were accused in the Sanjeevani scam and that the allegations against the complainant have been proved.