New Delhi, Aug 7 (Agency) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday appeared before the Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court through video conferencing in a defamation case filed by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal after hearing the Sessions Court’s order said, “….that vide order dated 01.08.2023 Ld. Revision Court (Ld. ASJ Special Judge, CBI 09) has directed this court to allow the accused to appear through VC. It has further directed that this court shall not insist on the accused furnishing bail bonds today. Accordingly, the accused is directed to furnish bail bonds on the next date of hearing and appear in person for the said purpose, unless otherwise directed by Ld. Revision Court”. “It is informed that matter is now listed before the Ld. Revision Court on 19.08.2023. Accordingly, let the matter be taken up before this court on 21.08.2023. Be kept for scrutiny of documents/further proceedings”, the ACMM said. Matter was listed today for appearance and for supply of copies to the accused. Counsel for the complainant submitted that copies have already been supplied. Counsel for Gehlot sought more time to scrutiny the documents supplied by the complainant. Delhi Court after hearing a complaint under section 499 and 500 Indian Penal Code (IPC) filed by Shekhawat for defaming and involving him by Gehlot in the Rs 900-crore Sanjivani credit society scam, passed an order on July, 6 for issuance of summons against CM Gehlot for appearance before the court on August 7.
The court has earlier said,”Having considered the facts and circumstances, the testimonies of the complainant witnesses, the evidence placed on record, it prima facie appears that the accused has made specific defamatory statements, as aforementioned (illustrated in para no. 33 herein) against the complainant. Further, it prima facie appears that the aforesaid defamatory statements of the accused have been sufficiently published in the newspaper/ electronic media/social media, which may make the right thinking members of the society shun the complainant. The same has also been deposed by all complainant witnesses, CW-2 to CW-4. It appears that the accused by his spoken words and by words which were intended to be read, have made defamatory imputations against the complainant, knowing and intending to harm the reputation of the complainant. At the cost of brevity, it is again specified here that the discussion here cannot be said to be a comment on the final merits of the case, as the same is a matter of trial”. “In view of the aforesaid discussion there exists sufficient grounds to summon the accused Ashok Gehlot, under section 500 of the Indian Penal Code” the court said. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has filed a complaint before the District court of Rouse Avenue and submitted that Mr. Gehlot defamed him and falsely accused him of being involved in the Rs 900 crore Sanjivani Credit Society scam. He contended that his name did not appear anywhere when the Rajasthan government investigated the matter.
It is alleged by Shekhawat that the accused, by way of press conferences, media report/social media posts, etc. has publicly stated that not only the complainant and his family members are accused in the Sanjivani scam, but also that the allegations against the complainant, in the said scam, stand proved. His counsel alleged that the accused has on different occasions addressed the media and has also uploaded videos and posts on his social media accounts in order to maliciously defame the complainant by way of false statements, particularly stating that the allegations against the complainant in Sanjivani scam stand proved and that the crime, of misappropriation/embezzlement of money belonging to poor and innocent investors, has been proved against the complainant. Shekhawat requested the Court that Gehlot be prosecuted for criminal defamation defined under the provisions of Indian Penal Code(IPC) and sought an appropriate financial compensation for the loss of his reputation.