Criminal Defamation: Delhi Court Summons BJP MLA Karnail Singh on Satyendar Jain’s Complaint
A Delhi court found “sufficient grounds to proceed” against BJP MLA Karnail Singh in AAP leader Satyendar Jain’s defamation case, rejecting Singh’s free speech defence and granting him bail on a ₹25,000 bond
A Delhi court had taken cognisance of AAP leader Satyendar Jain’s criminal defamation complaint against BJP MLA Karnail Singh over alleged false claims that 37 kilograms of gold were recovered from Jain’s home
A Delhi court on Tuesday took cognisance of a criminal defamation complaint filed by AAP leader and former minister Satyendar Jain against BJP MLA Karnail Singh, over allegedly false and defamatory remarks made during a television interview.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Paras Dalal of Rouse Avenue Court said there were “sufficient grounds to proceed” against Singh and ordered the issuance of process (notice) to the BJP leader.
The Court observed that the complaint established the key elements of defamation; imputation, publication, and intent to cause harm. “As long as the proposed accused admits that he gave the interview to a media person, which was heard by others and even published on a national news channel to be seen by the public, there are clearly statements and publications. The mental element to cause harm shall be subject matter of trial,” the Court said in its 19-page order.
According to Jain’s complaint, Karnail Singh made defamatory remarks during a television interview on January 19, 2024, claiming that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had recovered 37 kilograms of gold from Jain’s residence and that the AAP leader owned 1,100 acres of land purchased through ill-gotten wealth. Jain alleged that the statements were false, malicious, and politically motivated, made during an election campaign to damage his public image.
The Court rejected Singh’s defence that he had merely advised the media to verify the claims before publication. “Any person cannot just make a statement against the character or conduct of any person and put the task upon the media to verify the same. If such can be a defence, then defamation would only exist in penal statute… This is even more crucial when public figures are involved,” the Court remarked.
The magistrate also dismissed Singh’s free speech defence, noting that his comments appeared to be “concocted or deliberately exaggerated”, especially since he was contesting against Jain from the same constituency. The court noted that Singh’s allegations were unsupported by any ED statement, press release, or information in the public domain, suggesting that he had “made a statement with his own facts and figures.”
Concluding that the statements prima facie constituted defamation, the court said: “This court thus takes cognisance of the offence… There are sufficient grounds to proceed.”
As the offence was bailable, the judge granted Karnail Singh bail upon furnishing a bail bond and surety bond of ₹25,000 each.
The Court directed that the matter be listed for furnishing of bail and arguments on framing of notice on January 19, 2026.
Satyendar Jain, a senior AAP leader and former Delhi health minister, has been facing money-laundering proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate. However, no recovery of gold or properties of the scale mentioned by Singh has been reported officially. Jain’s legal team argued that the BJP leader’s remarks were part of a malicious political campaign, causing irreparable harm to Jain’s reputation.
Case Title: Satyender Jain v. Karnail Singh
Bench: Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Paras Dalal
Order Date: January 6, 2026