Delhi court dismisses BJP leader's defamation complaint against CM Atishi

A Delhi court on Tuesday afternoon dismissed a BJP leader's defamation complaint against Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi, who had been summoned in connection with the case.

The case was filed by BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor, who alleged that the Chief Minister's statements regarding the saffron party's alleged attempts to "poach AAP MLAs" caused damage to his personal and party's reputation.

In court, Kapoor had contended that these allegations were "baseless and defamatory".

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court reviewed the matter and decided to set aside the summoning order previously issued by a Magistrate court. The ruling comes as a legal victory for Atishi, who had contested the validity of the summons in her petition.

Special judge Vishal Gogne passed the order on an appeal filed by the AAP leader.

Justice Gogne observed the submission of Atishi's lawyer that Kapoor was not defamed by her as the alleged defamatory statement was against the BJP and not an individual.

In a statement last year, Atishi reportedly claimed that as



many as 21 MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were contacted by the BJP, which offered them Rs 25 lakh each to join the saffron party.

Atishi, during the same event, also alleged that she was approached by the BJP to join them or else she would be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the coming days.

"The BJP, through one of my close aides, approached me to join their party to save my political career and if I do not join the BJP, then in the coming month, I will be arrested by the ED," Atishi had said while addressing a press conference. She had also alleged that in the coming months before the 2024 general elections, the central probe agency will arrest a few more AAP leaders, including Raghav Chadha and Saurabh Bhardwaj.

Kapoor had alleged that Atishi deliberately and with malicious intent made statements that were not only false, scandalous, concocted and illusionary, but also defamatory to harm the reputation of the BJP and its members.

Atishi, in her petition, said that Kapoor was not able to even prima facia prove that the alleged remarks were against him personally or were aimed at him in any manner.