Delhi Court Summons AAP Leader Atishi In Defamation Case By BJP Leader Over Poaching Allegations

A Delhi Court on Tuesday summoned Delhi Government Minister Atishi Marlena in the defamation case filed by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor over the claims that Aam Aadmi Party leaders were approached by BJP to join them in return of crores of cash.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tanya Bamniyal of the Rouse Avenue Courts has directed Atishi to appear in court on June 29.

However, the court has not issued summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, another accused against whom the criminal defamation case has been filed.

Kapoor is aggrieved by AAP's claim that BJP is trying to poach its leaders, every time they are approached by ED.

Kapoor has said that the allegations are false and unsubstantiated. It is his case that the AAP leaders furnished no material to substantiate their claims.

Kapoor's plea refers to a tweet on X, formerly Twitter, posted by Kejriwal on January 27. He has also referred to a press conference conducted by Atishi on April 02.

In his tweet, Kejriwal alleged that the BJP had contacted seven AAP MLAs and was offering Rs. 25 Crores to poach them.

Notably, Kapoor, last month, sent a legal notice to Atishi for her speech alleging that she received an offer to join BJP to “save” her “political career” or else she will be arrested by ED. The legal notice had sought withdrawal of the speech and apology on TV and social media.

The notice had stated that if Atishi does not withdraw her speech and tender an apology, Kapoor shall be constrained to initiate both civil and criminal, proceedings against her.

The legal notice further stated that since Atishi's press conference, various persons have contacted Kapoor and blamed or ridiculed him for being “members of such vicious party” alleging that BJP does not believe in democratic values and is trying to run the country by way of dictatorship.