Delhi Court Summons BJP MLA Karnail Singh In Satyender Jain Defamation Case

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal observed that the allegations disclosed a prima facie case for trial and directed Karnail Singh to appear before the court on June 6.

“There are sufficient grounds to proceed further in this matter,” the court said while issuing process under Section 227 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

The complaint stems from an interview allegedly given by Karnail Singh on a news channel on January 19, 2025, in which he made statements concerning Jain’s assets and alleged misconduct.

The court noted that since the accused and complainant were political opponents from the same constituency, the statements ought to have been made with a higher degree of care and caution. It also observed that the accused, while speaking to the media, had advised caution in publishing his remarks but had not verified the factual basis of his own claims.

“The proposed accused, however, himself did not bother to check his facts before giving the interview. The facts stated by him in the complaint are not backed by any ED statement, press release or information in the public domain,” the court observed.

The order further recorded that the alleged statements, including claims about recovery of gold and ownership of large tracts of land, would require examination during trial, including whether they fall within any exception to criminal defamation.

“It appears the proposed accused made a statement with his own facts and figures, wherein the mental element of the proposed accused shall be subject matter of trial, as also if the same is covered under any exception to criminal defamation under law,” the court noted.

The court also relied on compliance with Sections 210, 223, and 227 of the BNSS while issuing summons.

Earlier, on January 6, the court had taken cognisance of the complaint and issued summons, which was later challenged by Karnail Singh before the Sessions Court. On April 30, the Sessions Court set aside that order and remanded the matter back to the trial court for fresh consideration, particularly on the issue of statutory exceptions. The Sessions Court had held that the trial court must examine whether exceptions to defamation law apply at the threshold stage and cannot defer the issue entirely to trial.

Following reconsideration, the magistrate court has now reinstated cognisance and proceeded with issuance of process against the BJP MLA. The matter will now be heard on June 6.