Court Rejects AAP's Satyendar's Plea on Defamation

A Delhi court on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Kumar Jain, challenging a trial court's decision that refused to take cognizance of his complaint seeking the prosecution of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj for alleged defamation.

- TDG NETWORK

The court, while concurring with the magisterial court's observation of insufficient grounds to proceed in the case, made a pointed observation that it was the responsibility of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to disseminate accurate information. It noted that the presentation of misleading facts could not only undermine the agency's institutional credibility but might also amount to an abuse of power.

The original complaint by Jain was dismissed by the trial court on February 20. The complaint was a criminal defamation suit, which under Indian law carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment.