New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) – A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed a criminal defamation complaint filed by BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. The complaint alleged that Tharoor made false and derogatory statements on national television, accusing Chandrasekhar of bribing voters in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal, while rejecting the plea, observed that the complaint did not establish a prima facie case of defamation. The court refused to summon Tharoor, ruling that "no ingredients of defamation" were evident in the allegations.
Chandrasekhar had claimed that Tharoor’s remarks were intended to tarnish his reputation and influence the election outcome despite knowing that the statements were false. According to the complaint, the interviews were widely disseminated through news channels and social media, leading to a loss of reputation for Chandrasekhar, which he argued contributed to his defeat in the 2024 general elections.
The Delhi court had earlier taken cognisance of the complaint on September 21, 2024.
Delhi High Court Summons Tharoor in Civil Defamation Suit
In a parallel legal development, the Delhi High Court on Monday issued summons to Shashi Tharoor in a defamation suit filed by Chandrasekhar, who is seeking ₹10 crore in damages for alleged reputational harm.Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav ordered that the matter be listed before the joint registrar on April 28, stating, "Let the plaint be registered as a suit. Issue summons to the defendant (Tharoor)."
The case marks another chapter in the ongoing legal battle between the two political figures, highlighting the continued tensions following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
