Jaitley Files Another 10-Crore Defamation Suit Against Kejriwal On Being Called A ‘Crook’ By Jethmalani

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday filed an additional Rs. 10 crore defamation suit against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal after his Counsel Ram Jethmalani called him a “crook” in the Court.

The incident relates to a cross-examination which was conducted on May 17 before the Delhi High Court. During the hearing, most of the questions had revolved around an article authored by Senior Advocate Ram Jethmalani, which appeared in The Indian Express, containing criticism against Union Minister Arun Jaitley.

Mr. Jethmalani had alleged that the said article was sent to the Sunday Guardian, but Mr. Jaitley had made arrangements to see that it is not published. Most of the questions were, however, disallowed by the Court as being ‘irrelevant’.

Mr. Jethmalani had then, on one instance, called Mr. Jaitley a “crook”, which was objected to by Mr. Jaitley and his counsels. “I wanted to show that this man (Arun Jaitley) is a crook,” he was quoted as saying.

Mr. Jaitley’s counsels had then asked Mr. Jethmalani whether he was using the term in his personal capacity or with instructions from his client, to which the Senior Counsel had retorted that it was being used with instructions from Mr. Kejriwal. Mr. Jaitley had then warned that he would seek aggravated damages for the statement.

On an earlier occasion, Mr. Jethmalani had said that Mr. Jaitley had no reputation whatsoever. The veteran Senior Counsel is appearing for Mr. Kejriwal, who has been sued by Mr. Jaitley and others, for allegedly making defamatory allegations against his handling of the Delhi District Cricket Administration (DDCA) as “corrupt”. Mr. Jaitley had run the DDCA as president for 13 years.