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Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey of a Delhi court has summoned Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) leaders Satyendar Jain, Atishi, Raghav Chadha, Sourabh Bharadwaj and Durgesh Pathak who have been accused of defamation by a BJP's Chhail Bihari Goswami.

Chhail has alleged that Government of NCT lead by AAP is not releasing funds of 13,000 crore to three municipal corporations under BJP, which have been allocated for development work. Chhail has submitted that the accuseds are misleading the genral public and creating negative image of BJP. 

Chhail has alleged that Durgesh Pathak in a  had held a Press Conference  he had made allegations of tax fraud and corruption to the tune of 1400 crore against BJP Councilors. He further claimed that such averments were published on AAP's Facebook page and certain dailies. Chhail levelled allegations against Atishi Marlena, stating that she falsely claimed that BJP scammed 2500 Crores, which was live streamed on Facebook. 

Chhail claimed that that accused persons conducted themselves in the above manner to lower his 'moral' and intellectual character before the public. Hence, he claimed they are punishable U/s 499 IPC read with Section 500 and 34 IPC. 

The Court found prima facie merit in such claim and observed, 

“The Court is of the considered view that prima facie accused persons namely Satyendar Jain, Atishi Marlena, Raghav Chadha, Durgesh Pathak and Sourabh Bharadwaj have committed the offence punishable under Section 499/500 (defamation) IPC read with Section 34 (common intention) IPC.”

The AAP leaders have been summoned on March 14, 2022 

Chhail Bihari Goswami Vs. Satyendra Jain & Ors.