Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed Arvind Kejriwal’s petition challenging the criminal defamation case against him regarding comments he made about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications. The defamation suit was filed by Gujarat University after Mr. Kejriwal publicly questioned the authenticity of PM Modi’s academic degree from the university, a remark the institution found defamatory and harmful to its reputation.
The case dates back to 2016 when Mr. Kejriwal, demanding transparency, pressed for the release of details about PM Modi’s degree from Gujarat University. While the Central Information Commission (CIC) initially directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to disclose the information, the Gujarat High Court later blocked the release of such data, upholding the CIC’s order in July 2016.
The defamation case gained momentum when Gujarat University’s registrar, Piyush Patel, filed a criminal defamation complaint against Mr. Kejriwal and fellow AAP leader Sanjay Singh, accusing them of damaging the university’s image. Mr. Kejriwal had sought to quash the summons issued by a trial court in Gujarat, which had directed him to appear for questioning about his comments.
However, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti dismissed Mr. Kejriwal’s plea, maintaining that the criminal defamation case would proceed. This decision marks a significant legal blow to Mr. Kejriwal, as his request to overturn the Gujarat High Court’s ruling was denied.
