No respite for CM, AAP men in defamation case

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday charged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with making “a series of false, scandalous and defamatory allegations” with regard to the alleged Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) controversy which had “adversely impacted” his reputation.

During a stormy proceeding in a Delhi court, the chief minister and five other AAP leaders, facing criminal defamation charges lodged by the union minister, attempted in vain to stall the recording of Jaitley’s testimony on the grounds that Kejriwal has had to engage a senior lawyer to replace noted jurist Ram Jethmalani, who had a bitter fallout with him recently.

Kejriwal and the others had accused Jaitley of financial irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) of which he was the president from 2000 to 2013, leading the minister to lodge defamation cases against them.

Besides the Chief Minister, AAP leaders Ashutosh, Kumar Vishwas and Sanjay Singh sought adjournment on the ground that their lawyers were unwell. Their plea was rejected by the court which went ahead with the recording of Jaitley’s statement.

Referring to alleged assertions made by six AAP leaders, the veteran BJP leader said his reputation has been “adversely impacted” due to the allegations made by Kejriwal …read more