SC junks Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging defamation case over remarks questioning PM Modi's degrees

The Gujarat University filed a case of criminal defamation against AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal. (File Photo: PTI)

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal challenging the criminal defamation case filed against him over his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications. Kejriwal had moved the top court challenging an order of the Gujarat High Court that dismissed his plea challenging the summons issued to him in the defamation case.

The case stems from a defamation plea moved by Gujarat University against the former Delhi Chief Minister claiming that the latter's remarks questioning the validity of the PM's qualifications, particularly his degree from Gujarat University, was derogatory and damaging to his reputation. A case of criminal defamation was eventually filed by the university's registrar Piyush Patel against Kejriwal and AAP MP Sanjay Singh.

On Monday, a bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti dismissed the petition pointing out that the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition filed by co-accused Sanjay Singh challenging the same proceedings in April this year.

The court, however, clarified that it has not gone into the merits of the matter and had followed a consistent approach as per the view taken by the court in Sanjay Singh's petition.

Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the sole intention of the proceedings against the AAP leader was to secure a conviction and disqualify him from political life.

On the other hand, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta appeared for the Gujarat University and drew the court's attention to the orders passed in the Sanjay Singh matter. SG Mehta also countered Singhvi's submission that Kejriwal was willing to issue a word of regret for his statement and termed the AAP leader a habitual offender.

"The present complainant is in the habit of making reckless statements and then saying sorry. From the time of late Arun Jaitley. He should be more circumspect," Mehta argued.

After hearing both sides, the court said it was willing to hear Singhvi but would not allow Kejriwal to withdraw the matter at a later stage and that an order would be passed based on the merits of the case. Singhvi eventually withdrew his plea and the matter was dismissed.