Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against the High Court’s order regarding his request for a stay on the proceedings in a criminal defamation complaint filed by Gujarat University in relation to PM Narendra Modi’s academic degree, was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Friday, according to PTI, a news agency.
The plea for interim relief to Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, seeking a halt to proceedings in a criminal defamation complaint filed by Gujarat University, was denied by the Gujarat High Court earlier.
ANI, a news agency, reported that the top court took note of Kejriwal’s plea to halt the trial, pending in the High Court, and expressed optimism that the High Court would address the matter on the specified date, August 29. The Gujarat University complaint pertains to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic degree. The court’s ruling dictates that no relief can be granted until their revision plea, challenging a Metropolitan Court order that summoned them, is resolved.
The order was passed by Justice Samir J. Dave, who presided over the bench, after evaluating the arguments presented by Chief Minister Kejriwal’s counsel, Senior Advocate Mihir Joshi, and Public Prosecutor Mitesh Amin.
Justice Samir Dave remarked, as per the report, “You must be present… evading court is not an option,” noting that both leaders had previously assured the sessions court of their appearance before the metropolitan court to deliver their statements.
It’s worth highlighting that a metropolitan court in Ahmedabad had summoned Kejriwal and Singh to appear on August 11 in connection with the defamation case lodged by Gujarat University due to alleged derogatory remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic qualifications.
On August 5, the City Civil & Sessions Court in Ahmedabad rejected Kejriwal and Singh’s plea to suspend trial proceedings pending the resolution of their revision plea, as reported by PTI. Following this, both leaders contested the decision and approached the Gujarat High Court, also urging the court to expedite the revision plea’s hearing.
Notably, Gujarat University Registrar Piyush Patel initiated a defamation case against the AAP leaders after their comments subsequent to the Gujarat High Court’s nullification of the Chief Information Commissioner’s ruling regarding PM Modi’s degree.
The complaint highlighted that the AAP leaders, during press conferences and on Twitter, made statements deemed “defamatory” by the complainant, targeting the university’s handling of Modi’s degree. This information was reported by PTI.
The complaint also contended that their statements against Gujarat University were both defamatory and aimed at damaging the institution’s reputation.