Jaitley Vs Kejriwal: Delhi Court Fixes Jan 5 For Hearing Criminal Defamation Case

New Delhi:Taking cognizance of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for allegedly defaming him in the DDCA controversy, a Delhi court on Monday fixed January 5 for recording the complainant’s evidence. During the 35-minute long hearing, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, who appeared for Jaitley, told the court that the accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders have made completely baseless and defamatory allegations against the Finance Minister regarding alleged financial irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). Jaitley has filed a criminal defamation suit in Patiala House court against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for issuing allegedly false and defamatory statements against him and his family members. Jaitley has sought Rs 10 crore as damages from Kejriwal and other AAP leaders – Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha and Deepak Bajpayee – for their alleged defamatory remarks. The complaint has been filed for the alleged offences under sections 499 (defamation), 500 (punishment for defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 502 (sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter), 34 (common intention) and 35 (when such an act is criminal by reason of its being done with a criminal knowledge or intention) of the IPC.