New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) – A Delhi court is set to rule on February 4 whether Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will be summoned in a criminal defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar. However, the order, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed as Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal was on leave.
Chandrasekhar has accused Tharoor of making false and defamatory statements on national television, alleging that the BJP leader bribed voters in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to Chandrasekhar, these remarks were deliberately intended to harm his reputation and influence the electoral outcome, despite Tharoor allegedly knowing them to be untrue.
"The interview(s) were broadcast by multiple news channels and widely shared on social media platforms at the behest of the accused. This led to a significant loss of reputation for the complainant in society, ultimately contributing to his defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," Chandrasekhar stated in his complaint.
The Delhi court had already taken cognizance of the complaint on September 21, 2024.
Delhi High Court Summons Tharoor in Rs 10 Crore Defamation Suit
In a parallel development, the Delhi High Court has also summoned Tharoor in a separate defamation suit, where Chandrasekhar is seeking Rs 10 crore in damages for reputational harm.Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, who heard the matter on Monday, directed that the plaint be registered as a suit and issued summons to Tharoor. The case is scheduled to be taken up before the joint registrar on April 28.
This legal battle adds to the political tensions between the two leaders, both of whom were high-profile contenders in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The upcoming court decisions could have significant legal and political implications.
