Arvind Kejriwal Finds No Relief in Supreme Court: PM Degree Defamation Case 

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister, along with fellow AAP leader Sanjay Singh, faced a setback in court recently. 

Gujarat University Registrar Piyush Patel had slapped a defamation case against them. 

No Supreme Court Relief For Arvind Kejriwal In PM Degree Defamation Case

The Supreme Court refused to entertain Kejriwal’s plea challenging the high court order that rejected his request to stay the criminal defamation proceedings. 

Gujarat University brought this case over the duo’s alleged remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualification.

The apex court, while leaving the matter in the hands of the Gujarat High Court, suggested that Kejriwal and the University raise their grievances before it. 

Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who was representing Kejriwal, voiced that the high court wrongly refused to grant an interim stay on the defamation proceedings.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the University, accused Kejriwal of suppression of facts. 

This escalated presumption of guilt even as the Gujarat High Court denied Kejriwal and Singh’s plea for an interim stay on the criminal defamation proceedings on the 11th of August.

A Gujarat metropolitan court earlier summoned both AAP leaders over their “sarcastic” and “derogatory” statements connected with PM Modi’s degree. The case is even listed for hearing on August 31.

Future Course of the Defamation Case

Upon receiving the summons, the AAP leaders had filed a revision application in the sessions court. 

The sessions court, however, declined their plea for an interim stay on trial, and the leaders approached the Gujarat High Court.

Closing Thoughts

According to Patel’s complaint, the AAP leaders made defamatory statements via press conferences and tweets, which targeted the University over PM Modi’s degree. These comments were said to have hurt the University’s prestige.

As citizens, we must await the verdict that would authenticate or refute these charges. However, in doing so, we should remember that defamation cases like these could have a significant impact on our democracy, public figures, and the public at large.