Delhi Court To Hear Ashok Gehlot's Request In Defamation Case On Oct 14

A Delhi court will on October 14 hear an application filed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot against a defamation complaint filed by Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Special MP-MLA Court Judge M K Nagpal had on September 16 posted the matter for arguments for October on the joint request of the advocates representing both Mr Gehlot and Mr Shekhawat.

The judge had earlier refused to stay the proceedings in complaint, but allowed the Congress leader to appear before a metropolitan magistrate through video conference.

A magisterial court is hearing Mr Shekhawat's complaint over Mr Gehlot's remarks linking him to the alleged Sanjivani scam.

The case is related to thousands of investors allegedly getting duped of about Rs 900 crore by the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society.

Mr Shekhawat, the Union 'Jal Shakti' Minister and MP from Jodhpur, has alleged in his complaint before the metropolitan magistrate that Mr 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 had said the accused prima facie made defamatory imputations against the complainant, knowingly and intending to harm his reputation.

The judge also took note of the submission made by senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, who represented Mr Shekhawat, that the allegations in the complaint were supported by all complainant's witnesses during their deposition.

Mr Shekhawat has alleged in his complaint that Mr Gehlot, by way of press conferences, media reports and social media posts publicly defamed him.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)