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Synopsis

A local court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat has recently issued summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Rajya Sabha MP from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Sanjay Singh in a criminal defamation case over their alleged defamatory statements about Gujarat University in connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational degree.

The court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate Jayeshbhai Chovatiya directed both the leaders to appear on May 23.

After the Gujarat High Court set aside the Chief Information Commissioner's order asking the Gujarat University to provide information on the educational degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kejriwal and Singh had made certain comments during press conferences and on their social media handles. 

Subsequently, the Gujarat University through registrar Piyush Patel filed a complaint against the duo alleging that their said comments were "defamatory" targeting the university over PM Modi's degree.

The university claimed that the said comments were sarcastic and were intended to hurt the prestige of the institution which was established more than 70 years ago.

According to the complainant, Kejriwal commented:  "If there is a degree and it is genuine, then why is it not being given?" and "They are not giving degree because it might be fake," and also, "If the Prime Minister studied at Delhi University and Gujarat University, then Gujarat University should celebrate that our student became the country's PM".

As per the complaint, Sanjay Singh had said "They are trying to prove the PM's fake degree as genuine."

After observing that prima facie there appeared to be a case against Kejriwal and Singh under Indian Penal Code Section 500 (defamation), the magistrate court summoned the two leaders. 

Apart from that, the court also ordered to delete 'Chief Minister' from Kejriwal's name in the cause title of the case. Court opined that the statements were made by him in his personal capacity.

[Source: The Economic Times]