The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday dismissed Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s petition seeking a separate trial from his party colleague, Sanjay Singh, in a criminal defamation case filed by Gujarat University after their comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic qualifications, Live Law reported.
The court had reserved its verdict in the matter in December.
A single bench of Justice MR Mengdey dismissed the pleas filed by the AAP leaders who had moved the High Court after their pleas seeking a separation of trial were rejected by the trial, city sessions coand magistrate courts.
Kejriwal had argued before the sessions court that he and Singh should not be tried together as the dates of the alleged incidents were different, Live Law reported.
It was submitted that both leaders had uploaded separate videos on their personal social media accounts and that evidence against one could not be used against the other.
On December 15, the sessions court observed that Kejriwal had held a press conference on April 1, 2023, and Singh on April 2, 2023, during which they used defamatory language that tarnished the image and reputation of Gujarat University.
The videos of the press conferences were later uploaded on social media, Live Law reported.
The court had said at the time that the term “same offence” indicates the “same…
Source: Modi degree defamation case: Gujarat HC rejects Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking separate trial
