PM Modi's degree: Gujarat HC rejects pleas by Kejriwal, Singh to quash summons in criminal defamation case

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The Gujarat High Court on Friday dismissed pleas by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh to quash the summons issued against them in a criminal defamation case, reported news wire PTI.

The Gujarat University has filed a defamation case against Kejriwal and Singh over their comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications.

Through their pleas, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and AAP's Rajya Sabha member Singh had challenged the summons by a trial court in the case filed by GU and the subsequent order of the sessions court dismissing their revision applications against the summons. Rejecting their applications, Justice Hasmukh Suthar directed the two AAP leaders to make their submissions before the trial court, PTI report said.

The metropolitan court had summoned Kejriwal and Singh on April 15 last year in the defamation case filed by GU over their 'sarcastic' and 'derogatory' statements in connection with PM Modi's degree. Seeking the quashing of the summons, the two leaders had said that Gujarat University (GU) cannot file a defamation case before a magistrate court and rather should move the sessions court.

However, the sessions court upheld the summons, after which they approached the Gujarat HC, which also rejected their plea for an interim stay. The two leaders had also approached the Supreme Court, which too refused to entertain their pleas.

The HC later directed the sessions court to conclude the hearing within ten days after assigning the matter to a new bench, PTI report said.

GU registrar Piyush Patel had filed a defamation case against Kejriwal and Singh after the HC in March last year set aside the Central Information Commission (CIC) order concerning PM Modi's educational qualification. While the court imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 upon Kejriwal, it also refused to grant a stay on the order.

Kejriwal and Singh made 'defamatory' statements in press conferences and on social media targeting the university over Modi's degree, GU had said in its complaint. Their comments, which were made intentionally, targeting the GU were defamatory and hurt the prestige of the university, as per the complainant.

(With PTI inputs)