A Delhi Court on Monday said it had ‘sufficient material’ to proceed with a criminal defamation complaint by Delhi Police against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he used the ‘thulla’ jibe to describe cops during an interview.
In the complaint filed by constable Ajay Kumar Taneja, who is posted at Lajpat Nagar Police Station in the capital, the court has fixed the October 5 date for recording pre-summoning evidence.
“Considering the content of the complaint and the material placed on record, I am of the opinion that there is sufficient material to proceed with the complaint and the opportunity be given to the complaint to lead pre-summoning evidence. Now be put up for pre-summoning evidence on October 5,” Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar said.
Incidentally, this is the second criminal defamation complaint filed by Delhi police over Kejriwal’s remarks. The other one was also filed by a Delhi Police constable and the court had fixed the matter for recording of pre-summoning evidence.
The present complaint was filed on July 23 by Taneja, a day after a cop posted at Govindpuri Police Station (Constable Harvinder) had lodged a similar complaint against Kejriwal.
Taneja said he felt insulted and mentally disturbed by the CM’s remarks.
“If a word like ‘thulla’ is used by an eminent personality like the Chief Minister to refer to personnel of Delhi Police, then the general public would too have no respect or regard for police personnel who dedicate their entire lives to maintain law and order in Delhi,” Taneja had said in his complaint.
Taneja also claimed that he had lodged a complaint at Lajpat Nagar Police Station under section 500 (defamation) of IPC.
In one of his recent interviews, Kejriwal had talked about ‘constraints’ faced by his state government in ensuring smooth functioning of the Anti-Corruption Branch.
Police Commissioner BS Bassi had also objected Kejriwal’s use of the word ‘thulla’ during this interview.
