December 31, 2025 11:32 pm (IST)
Defamation case: Kejriwal appears in court after judge slams his absence
New Delhi, Mar 16 (IBNS): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and AAP leader Yogendra Yadav on Tuesday appeared before a Delhi court in connection with a defamation case, after receiving a flak from the judge for not appearing for the hearing.
This comes after they were directed by the court to appear in connection with the criminal defamation case.
As Kejriwal and others remained absent even after being summoned, Metropolitan Magistrate Mayuri Singh said they "have no respect for the law".
The court has now fixed May 2, for pronouncing order on framing of charges against Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav in the case.
The trio had earlier sought an exemption from personal appearances for the hearing, citing lawyers' strike.
However, the court slammed the move, stating that no reason was given for their absence from the hearing.
This was the first time after the rift within AAP came to light that Kejriwal, Sisodia met Yadav.
The complainant, advocate Surender Kumar Sharma, opposed the plea of exemption stating the lawyers are on strike and not the litigants and it would not be in the interest of justice if any adjournment is given in the case as the case had earlier been adjourned three times due to absence of the accused, said reports.
Sharma had alleged that in 2013 he was approached by volunteers of AAP who had asked him to contest the Delhi Assembly elections on a party ticket. They reportedly said Kejriwal was pleased with his social services.
He had then filled up the application form to contest the polls after being told by Sisodia and Yadav that party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) had decided to give him the ticket.
However, it was later denied to him.
Sharma had claimed that articles in leading newspapers carried "defamatory, unlawful and derogatory words used by the accused persons" which thereby lowered his reputation in the Bar and the society.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
S Jaishankar meets Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, hands him PM Modi's condolence letter
Wed, Dec 31 2025
‘Vote theft is in electoral rolls, not EVMs’: Abhishek Banerjee leads TMC charge against EC over Bengal voter re-verification
Wed, Dec 31 2025
Faridabad horror: Woman gang-raped in moving van for over two hours, thrown on road
Wed, Dec 31 2025
2025: An Unsettled World—and an India at the Crossroads
Wed, Dec 31 2025
No third party involved: India govt sources refute China’s Operation Sindoor ceasefire claim
Wed, Dec 31 2025
Final goodbye to Khaleda Zia: Jaishankar flies to Dhaka for funeral
Wed, Dec 31 2025
NRI dies in accidental gun discharge at home in Punjab’s Firozepur
Tue, Dec 30 2025
