Court reserves defamation suit order

A city court has reserved its order on Sheila Dikshit's petition seeking issuance of summons against Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta in a defamation suit.

Metropolitan Magistrate Saumya Chauhan put up the matter for order 4 June after Dikshit's counsel concluded his argument. Dikshit had recorded her statement against Gupta on Wednesday and requested the court to summon him.

Dikshit's counsel told the court that Gupta has neither responded to the legal notice served upon him nor has he apologised for his remarks. The counsel said that instead of doing so, he reiterated the derogatory words against Dikshit.

Dikshit had filed the suit against Gupta for erecting hoardings across the city, accusing her government of conniving with private discoms and indulging in corruption in determining new power tariff. Dikshit had filed the complaint against Gupta a few days before the 15 April MCD elections.

The Delhi chief minister told the court that she had sent legal notices to Gupta after the civic polls, but the BJP leader did not apologise.

Dikshit has also filed a civil defamation suit against Gupta in the Delhi High Court which had asked them to settle it. Gupta, however, had contended in the High Court that 'fair' criticism is the part and parcel of a healthy democracy.

Gupta had earlier filed an application in the court seeking dismissal of the case. 

Dikshit had demanded a token Re 1 as damages in her suit.