JAIPUR: In a recent development, a Delhi court dismissed the revision petition filed by former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot challenging the summoning order in a defamation case filed against him by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The case revolves around allegations of defamatory statements made by Gehlot against Shekhawat in connection with the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam, where approximately 2.14 lakh investors were allegedly defrauded of around Rs 900 crore.
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The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal, who initially summoned Gehlot, observed that there was prima facie evidence of specific defamatory statements against the complainant. The court further noted that these statements had been sufficiently published in various media outlets, potentially causing reputational harm to Shekhawat.
In March, the court had ordered the police to investigate Shekhawat’s defamation complaint. The investigation involved questions about whether Shekhawat was addressed as an accused, whether the complainant asserted that allegations against the accused stood proven, and whether the complainant and his family members were implicated in the investigation. While the first two questions were affirmed, the last question was answered in the negative.
BREAKING: A sessions court dismissed a review petition filed by recently displaced #RajasthanCM Ashok Gehlot in a defamation complaint filed by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat pic.twitter.com/7jDFI1Jmuj
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) December 13, 2023
The recent decision by Additional Sessions Judge M K Nagpal, upheld the order passed by the ACMM. In a meticulous 64-page order, it stated that there were no factual mistakes, illegality, or impropriety in the findings. Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa, representing Shekhawat, emphasised that the magisterial court, at the stage of summoning an accused, was not required to delve into detailed discussions or appreciation of the evidence. Such considerations are reserved for the trial’s conclusion based on the evidence presented.
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Shekhawat, Union Jal Shakti Minister and MP from Jodhpur, accused Gehlot of publicly defaming him through press conferences, media reports, and social media posts, linking him to the Sanjivani scam. The magisterial court, while refusing to halt the proceedings, allowed Gehlot to appear before a metropolitan magistrate via video conference. Additionally, he must seek bail by furnishing bail bonds as he faces trial. The court’s order revokes the exemption that previously allowed Gehlot to avoid personal appearance and the furnishing of bail bonds.
The case, rooted in the alleged duping of thousands of investors in the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society, continues to unfold as the court affirms the defamation claims. Gehlot, facing allegations of tarnishing Shekhawat’s image and affecting his political career, is set to navigate the legal proceedings in this high-profile case.
If Gehlot is proven culpable in the trial, it may result in imprisonment, and if found guilty, there is a possibility of his removal as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Rajasthan Assembly.
