BJP Leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar Moves Delhi High Court Challenging Dismissal Of Criminal Defamation Case Against Shashi Tharoor, Notice Issued

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice on a plea filed by former Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar challenging the trial court order dismissing his complaint against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor over allegations of defamation.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja sought response of Tharoor and listed the matter for hearing on September 16.

“Matter requires consideration. Issue notice returnable on September 16,” the Court said.

It further ordered that the trial court record be requisitioned in digital form.

Chandrashekhar has challenged the trial court order passed on February 04. Vide the said order, the ACJM had refused to summon Tharoor in the case and said that prima facie, no ingredients of defamation were made out.

The Trial Court had taken cognizance of Chandrasekhar's complaint in September last year.

BJP leader Chandrasekhar had filed the case alleging that Tharoor defamed him on national television by making false statements that he was bribing voters in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. 

As per Chandrasekhar, the statements were made by Tharoor on a Malayalam news channel called “24 News.”

In a related development, the Delhi High Court had summons to Tharoor in a defamation suit filed by Chandrasekhar. In the suit, the BJP leader has sought permanent injunction and damages against Tharoor on account of his allegedly defamatory statements in the interview.

Chandrasekhar's complaint stated that Tharoor's interview was published by various news channels as well as on social media platforms at the behest of the latter which resulted in loss of reputation of the former in the society. He further alleged that the situated ultimately resulted in him losing the Lok Sabha polls, 2024.

Title: Dr. Rajeev Chandrashekhar v. Dr. Shashi Tharoor