Recording his statement against Kapil Mishra in a court in the national capital, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain accused sacked minister Kapil Mishra and a BJP lawmaker, who had allegedly levelled graft charges against him, of defaming him.
Mr Jain, who appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Shefali Barnala Tandon, recorded pre-summoning evidence in support of his separate complaints against Mr Mishra and BJP lawmaker Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
After the completion of Mr Jain's testimony, his advocate Gautam Dhamija submitted that he did not want to examine any other witness in support of the complaints. The court listed the criminal defamation complaints for August 23 for hearing arguments.
Mr Jain, while reiterating the contents of his complaints, claimed that Mr Mishra had allegedly made defamatory statements against him in the media. He deposed that Mr Mishra had also used his official Twitter handle to defame him and instead of going to any probe agency, he had levelled the allegations.
He also submitted that Mr Sirsa had alleged that the minister was circulating huge amounts of illegitimate money within the party.
The court had earlier taken cognisance of the complaints filed against Mr Mishra and Mr Sirsa. The complaints by Mr Jain were filed on May 19.
If convicted, the offence of defamation entails a maximum punishment of two years.
Mr Jain in his plea against Mr Mishra, who was earlier heading the water department, has submitted that on May 7 he had made a statement accusing him of giving a bribe of Rs two crore to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 5.
He has said his family members and people from his constituency had questioned him about the incident which had caused irreparable damage to his reputation.
Regarding Mr Sirsa, Mr Jain has said that on May 9, the lawmaker had made libellous statements by levelling corruption allegation against him.
He has said that making a statement on the basis of "hearsay" without any proof or evidence supporting it, is not only unbecoming of an MLA, but also an offence of defamation.
Mr Jain, who appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Shefali Barnala Tandon, recorded pre-summoning evidence in support of his separate complaints against Mr Mishra and BJP lawmaker Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
After the completion of Mr Jain's testimony, his advocate Gautam Dhamija submitted that he did not want to examine any other witness in support of the complaints. The court listed the criminal defamation complaints for August 23 for hearing arguments.
He also submitted that Mr Sirsa had alleged that the minister was circulating huge amounts of illegitimate money within the party.
Advertisement
If convicted, the offence of defamation entails a maximum punishment of two years.
Advertisement
He has said his family members and people from his constituency had questioned him about the incident which had caused irreparable damage to his reputation.
Advertisement
He has said that making a statement on the basis of "hearsay" without any proof or evidence supporting it, is not only unbecoming of an MLA, but also an offence of defamation.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Degrees Won't Do, Open A Puncture Repair Shop": BJP Madhya Pradesh MLA Ex BJP MLA, 5 Others Sentenced To 7-Year Jail In 2012 Vandalism Case In UP Ex BJP MLA Among 6 Convicted In 2012 Vandalism, Assault Case Life On Earth Originates From One Ancestor, Older Than Previously Believed Cops Probing Conspiracy Angle Into Kolkata Hospital Vandalism: 5 Points Omar Abdullah On What Should Be J&K Assembly's 1st Move After Polls Centre Closely Monitoring Mpox Situation, No New Cases Reported MK Stalin Unveils Mega Industrial Housing For 18,000 Foxconn Women Workers "Effective Immediately": Elon Musk's X Closing Operations In Brazil Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.