Never Told Jethmalani To Use Words Like ‘Crook’ For Jaitley: Kejriwal [Read the Reply]

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said he never asked senior advocate Ram Jethmalani to pose objectionable questions to Arun Jaitley or use objectionable words while recording of evidence in the Rs. 10-crore defamation suit initiated by the Finance Minister.

In his reply to Arun Jaitley’s application that he is being asked scandalous questions and attempts were being made to delay the proceedings, Arvind Kejriwal said, “I cannot be blamed for delaying the recording of evidence, especially when there has been no delay and the suit has been proceeding at breakneck speed.”

In his reply, the Delhi Chief Minister said Jaitley’s application was not maintainable and denied having delayed the proceedings in the matter while claiming that the dates of hearing reveal that the matter is proceeding at a “brisk speed”.

He said he has never moved any frivolous application or sought adjournment and has never challenged any order passed in the suit.

He said neither he nor the counsel briefing the senior counsel gave instructions to the senior counsel to use objectionable words.

“The answering defendant (Kejriwal) vide letter dated July 19, 2017, had conveyed to the senior counsel directly that no instructions to use objectionable words like “crook” and “guilty of crimes and crookery” were ever given by him at any time …,” he said in a reply.

He also denied the allegation made by Arun Jaitley that questions were designed to insult or annoy him.

He also denied that the counsel representing him ever tried to “browbeat, overawe and intimidate the Joint Registrar who was recording the evidence”.

“Nothing as sought to be stated by the plaintiff has been recorded in the order-sheet and that these allegations are simply assumptions of the applicant sans factual foundation,” he said in his reply to Arun Jaitley’s application.

He also claimed that the application made by Arun Jaitley is an attempt to limit the rights of the defendant to cross-examine him.

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