April 03, 2026 09:16 am (IST)
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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.
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