Court refuses to stay defamation case against Kejriwal

A court here on Thursday rejected the plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to stay the proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against him and five other AAP leaders by Union minister Arun Jaitley.

The application moved by senior advocate Ram Jethmalani on behalf of Kejriwal before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Dass said there are two cases – one civil and the other criminal – filed against the AAP leaders on same allegations and one of them should be stayed.

"Adjourn the matter, so that I can approach the High Court in this regard... I don't want to face both the cases simultaneously," Jethmalani said. The court, however, rejected the plea saying, “The matter has to proceed further... the application is dismissed. Put up for further hearing on July 16 for framing notice.”