Delhi Deputy CM Parvesh Sahib Singh files defamation proceedings against AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh has filed civil and criminal defamation proceedings against Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj in connection with his social media posts allegedly insinuating that Singh misused his influence in favour of officials at a school where a three-year-old girl was sexually assaulted, Bar and Bench reported.

Bharadwaj had allegedly made the claims in posts on X on May 16 and May 16.

The BJP leader asserted that the former AAP MLA’s allegations were “malicious, false and full of lies made with the intent to harm the reputation of the Plaintiff”, Bar and Bench reported.

The deputy chief minister filed the civil defamation suit, in which he has sought damages of Rs 5 crore, before the Delhi High Court. The case was listed on May 25 before Joint Registrar (Judicial) Gagandeep Jindal, who issued summons to Bharadwaj and listed the matter for further hearing on September 7.

Jindal directed Bharadwaj to file a written statement on the allegations within 30 days of receiving summons.

The criminal defamation case was heard by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal on May 22. The court listed the matter for the examination of Singh on June 9, and for the depositions of witnesses on June 11, according to Bar and Bench.

Edited by Neerad Pandharipande....

Read more