Gadkari’s counsel Pinky Anand has said in the plea that Kejriwal has tarnished the BJP leader’s image by calling him corrupt. Metropolitan magistrate Gomati Manocha has the next hearing in the matter on 22 February. The court also asked Gadkari to record his testimony in the case.
‘He has deliberately tried to malign my image though I am not involved in any wrongful or corrupt act and I request the court to act against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and prosecute him for defaming me along with party’s image,’ said Gadkari.
The former BJP president added that Kejriwal’s move intended to harm his reputation and will help the AAP convener to advance his political agenda and gain media attention. ‘He has deliberately released/published the aforesaid list of India’s most corrupt mentioning the name of the complainant in a grossly irresponsible manner, so it constitutes the offence of defamation under section 499 IPC, punishable under section 500 IPC,’ Gadkari said in his statement.
Though in his complaint, Kejriwal is the only accused, the BJP leader also mentioned the name of former journalist Ashutosh, who is now national spokesperson of AAP, for repeating Kejriwal’s charges without verifying the correctness of allegations. ‘Ashutosh’s statement was published and broadcasted in various print and electronic media, which is also a defamatory exercise,’ said the BJP leader.
‘He has deliberately tried to malign my image though I am not involved in any wrongful or corrupt act and I request the court to act against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and prosecute him for defaming me along with party’s image,’ said Gadkari.
The former BJP president added that Kejriwal’s move intended to harm his reputation and will help the AAP convener to advance his political agenda and gain media attention. ‘He has deliberately released/published the aforesaid list of India’s most corrupt mentioning the name of the complainant in a grossly irresponsible manner, so it constitutes the offence of defamation under section 499 IPC, punishable under section 500 IPC,’ Gadkari said in his statement.
Though in his complaint, Kejriwal is the only accused, the BJP leader also mentioned the name of former journalist Ashutosh, who is now national spokesperson of AAP, for repeating Kejriwal’s charges without verifying the correctness of allegations. ‘Ashutosh’s statement was published and broadcasted in various print and electronic media, which is also a defamatory exercise,’ said the BJP leader.