Delhi High Court Seeks Response Of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat On Ashok Gehlot's Plea Against Summons In Defamation Case

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice on an appeal filed by Rajasthan's former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot challenging a trial court order upholding his summoning in a criminal defamation case filed by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma sought response of Shekhawat within two weeks and listed the matter for hearing next on March 06.

The court also ordered that the trial court will adjourn proceedings in the defamation case to a date later than the date fixed by it today.

Gehlot moved the court challenging an order passed by a sessions court last year rejecting his appeal against the summoning order passed by a lower court in the matter.

The sessions court had said that the summons issued by ACMM court did not suffer from any factual mistake, illegality or impropriety of finding.

In October last year, the ACMM court had also refused to acquit Gehlot in the matter.

The complaint case was filed by Shekhawat alleging defamation by Gehlot.  

Shekhawat has alleged that Gehlot called him and his family members, including his deceased mother, accused in the alleged Sanjeevani scam. Shekhawat also alleged that during press conferences or media briefings, Gehlot claimed that the allegations against Shekhawat stand proved.

In March last year, the court had directed the Delhi Police to investigate if Shekhawat was addressed as “an accused” in the alleged scam by Gehlot. It had directed the Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police concerned to investigate the matter either himself or through an officer not below the rank of an Inspector.

While ordering police probe, the court had observed the whether or not the statements of Gehlot constitute defamation against Shekhawat largely rests upon the investigation being undertaken by the Special Operation Groups (SOG) in the scam in question.

Title: Ashok Gehlot v. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat