Delhi Court Summons Honeypreet Insan's Ex-Husband, Father-In-Law For Making Alleged Defamatory Statements

A Delhi Local Court on Monday summoned the former husband and father-in-law of Honeypreet Insan, the adopted daughter of Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, for making alleged defamatory statements against Honeypreet.

The Metropolitan Magistrate Vivek Beniwal found that a prima case u/s 500 IPC was made out against the accused persons and therefore, it issued summons to Honeypreet's former husband, Vishwas Gupta, and his father, Mahendra Pal Gupta, by issuing a process u/s 204 CrPC.

Before the Court, Honepreet/Complainant had stated on oath that the accused gave a defamatory interview on a news channel last year made wherein they made categorical allegation stating that the complainant had approached public officials and purchased them and for this purpose she entered into a conspiracy.

Further, Honeypreet also stated that the accused persons also made allegations to the extent that she has a questionable character and allegedly, she is in an illicit relationship with Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

In view of this, noting that the criminal complaint alongwith statement on oath of Complainant clearly brings about the allegations tantamounting to prima facie case of a criminal case, the Court summoned them. The Court summoned the accused after perusing the compact disk, which was played in the court, and also heard the defamatory allegations.

Importantly, taking note of the judgment of Abhijit Pawar v. Hemant Madhukar Nimbalkar and Ors., 2017 (3) SCC 528, the Court clarifies that in the instant case, the enquiry u/s 202 CrPC is already complete as the statements on oath of CW2, CW3 and CW4 are taken as enquiry u/s 202 CrPC conducted by this court and the same complement the statement on oath given by the complainant u/s 200 CrPC.

In view of this, now the Court shall hear the matter on July 12, 2022.

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