Delhi Court Quashes Summons Issued To Chief Minister Atishi In Defamation Case By BJP Leader

A Delhi Court on Tuesday quashed the summons issued to Chief Minister Atishi in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor.

The defamation case was filed over the claims that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders were approached by Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) to join them in return of crores of cash.

Special judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Courts set aside the order passed by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate which issued summons to Atishi in the case in May last year.

The Court allowed the revision petition filed by Atishi challenging the magisterial court order.

About Case and Impugned Order

While issuing summons to Atishi, the CMM had not issued summons to AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal, another accused against whom the criminal defamation case was filed.

Kapoor was aggrieved by AAP's claim that BJP was trying to poach its leaders, every time they are approached by ED.

Kapoor had said that the allegations are false and unsubstantiated. It was his case that the AAP leaders furnished no material to substantiate their claims.

Kapoor's plea referred to a tweet on X, formerly Twitter, posted by Kejriwal on January 27, 2024. He had referred to a press conference conducted by Atishi on April 02, 2024.

In his tweet, Kejriwal had alleged that the BJP had contacted seven AAP MLAs and was offering Rs. 25 Crores to poach them.

Notably, Kapoor, last year, sent a legal notice to Atishi for her speech alleging that she received an offer to join BJP to “save” her “political career” or else she will be arrested by ED. The legal notice had sought withdrawal of the speech and apology on TV and social media.

The notice had stated that if Atishi does not withdraw her speech and tender an apology, Kapoor shall be constrained to initiate both civil and criminal, proceedings against her.

The legal notice further stated that since Atishi's press conference, various persons have contacted Kapoor and blamed or ridiculed him for being “members of such vicious party” alleging that BJP does not believe in democratic values and is trying to run the country by way of dictatorship.