Delhi High Court Stays Trial Against BJP Leaders Hans Raj Hans, Manjinder Singh Sirsa In Defamation Case By Manish Sisodia

The Delhi High Court on Thursday stayed the trial court proceedings against Bhartiya Janata Party leaders Hans Raj Hans and Manjinder Singh Sirsa in a defamation case filed by deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma also issued notice on the pleas moved by the two BJP leaders challenging the trial court order dated November 28, 2019 summoning them in the matter.

Both Sirsa and Hans, along with four other leaders namely Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, Harish Khurana and Vijender Gupta, were issued summons by an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate under sections 500 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The defamation case was filed by Sisodia in 2019 against the BJP leaders for allegedly making defamatory statements against him in connection with the alleged corruption of nearly Rs 2,000 crore in the building of classrooms in Delhi's government schools.

The counsels appearing for two leaders submitted that one of the summoned persons, Vijender Gupta had invoked the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court vide which the impugned summoning order of the trial court was set aside qua him on October 17, 2022.

It was also submitted that another summoned individual, Manoj Tiwari had also filed an SLP before the Apex Court which was dismissed on the limited point of interplay of sections 199(2) and (6) of CrPC.

The court was also apprised that the discharge application moved before the trial court by Hans and Sirsa was dismissed vide order dated December 23, 2022. 

It was thus submitted that since the Supreme Court has already returned a finding on the summoning order qua Vijender Gupta, the case against Hans and Sirsa also required re-examination.

Apart from issuing notice on the main pleas, the court also issued notice on the interim applications seeking stay of the proceedings before the trial court.

While listing the matter for hearing next on March 10, the court said that the trial court proceedings qua the two petitioners will remain stayed in the meantime.

Title: HANS RAJ HANS, MANJINDER SINGH SIRSA v. MANISH SISODIA & ORS.