Delhi High Court Rejects AAP Leaders' Plea in Defamation Case

The Delhi High Court dismissed the plea by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders challenging the defamation case against them for allegedly maligning the BJP. The court emphasized the right to truthful information and stated mudslinging is intolerable in a democracy.

The Delhi High Court, on Monday, dismissed the plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) challenging the defamation proceedings against them. The court underscored that citizens are entitled to truthful and accurate information and stated that political parties cannot indulge in mudslinging.

Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta highlighted that in a democracy, the right to truthful information is paramount. He further noted that the allegations made by AAP against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were defamatory and aimed at tarnishing the BJP's reputation for political gain.

The court vacated its interim order, which had stayed the trial court's summons to Kejriwal, Atishi, and other AAP leaders. All parties are summoned to appear before the trial court. The defamation case, initiated by BJP Delhi leader Rajeev Babbar, accused AAP leaders of defaming the BJP by alleging voter roll manipulations. The High Court's earlier stay on these proceedings has now been lifted.

(With inputs from agencies.)