A Delhi court on Thursday issued a notice to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and AAP MP Sanjay Singh in response to a criminal defamation complaint filed by former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit. The notice was issued by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal, who has directed the AAP leaders to submit a reply by January 27. The case will be further heard on the same date.
Sandeep Dikshit, who is contesting the upcoming Delhi assembly elections against former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi constituency, filed the defamation complaint after Atishi and Singh made certain allegations against him. The complaint claims that the two AAP leaders deliberately tarnished Dikshit’s reputation by accusing him of accepting crores of rupees from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The allegations also included claims that the Congress, with which Dikshit is affiliated, had colluded with the BJP in a bid to defeat AAP in the Delhi elections.
Dikshit’s complaint suggests that the statements made by Atishi and Singh were intended to harm his personal and political reputation. He contended that these accusations were baseless and false, and sought legal recourse to clear his name and prevent further damage to his public image.
The Delhi court has now scheduled the next hearing for January 27, by which time Atishi and Singh are required to file their responses to the defamation allegations
