A Delhi court will hear on November 8 arguments on an application filed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot against a complaint by Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat accusing him of defamation.
Additional Sessions Judge M K Nagpal also said the earlier direction to the magisterial court asking it to refrain from passing the final order on Shekhawat’s complaint will continue till November 8.
The judge fixed the date on a request made jointly by senior advocates Vikas Pahwa and Mohit Mathur, appearing for Shekhawat and Gehlot, respectively. As jointly requested, list this matter now on November 8, 2023 at 2 PM for remaining arguments of respondent and also on November 18, 2023 at 10:30 AM for rebuttal arguments of petitioner. Interim orders to continue till the next date of hearing, the judge said.
The judge had earlier refused to stay the proceedings in the complaint but allowed Gehlot to appear before a metropolitan magistrate through video conference. A magisterial court is hearing Union minister and senior Rajasthan BJP leader Shekhawat’s complaint over Gehlot’s purported remarks linking him to the alleged Sanjivani scam in the state.
The case is related to thousands of investors allegedly getting duped of about Rs 900 crore by the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society. Shekhawat, the Union Jal Shakti Minister and MP from Jodhpur, has alleged in his complaint before the metropolitan magistrate that Gehlot has been making defamatory remarks against him over the alleged scam and trying to tarnish his image and affect his political career.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal had said Gehlot prima facie made defamatory imputations against Shekhawat, intending to harm his reputation. The judge also took note of the submission made by senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, who represented Shekhawat, that the allegations in the complaint were supported by all complainant’s witnesses during their deposition.
Shekhawat has alleged in his complaint that Gehlot, by way of press conferences, media reports and social media posts publicly defamed him.
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