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Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and two others AAP leaders have been summoned as accused by a court here in a criminal defamation complaint filed against them by an advocate.
Metropolitan Magistrate Muneesh Garg directed Kejriwal, AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Yogendra Yadav to appear before it on June 4 in the matter.
"Accused persons namely Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Yogender Yadav are summoned for offence punishable under Sections 499/500/34 (defamation and common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
"Be listed on June 4, 2014 for appearance of accused persons," the court said on the complaint of advocate Surender Kumar Sharma
"In the totality of facts and circumstances, considering the deposition of complainant and other evidence on record, I find prima facie material to summon the accused persons for offence under Sections 499/500/34 IPC.
"The press release published in newspapers as well as testimonies of witnesses reflect that defamatory remarks were published in the newspaper which affected the reputation of complainant in the society and lowered his reputation in the eyes of other members of the society," the magistrate said.
The court, however, rejected the complainant's plea that AAP leaders had conspired and cheated him, saying in the absence of the very element of deception, there was no prima facie material against any of the accused for the offence of cheating and criminal conspiracy.
The advocate had alleged that in 2013 he was approached by volunteers of AAP who asked him to contest Lok Sabha election on party ticket as Kejriwal was pleased with his social services.
He filled up the application form for contesting on AAP ticket and was later on told by Sisodia and Yadav that the Political Affairs Committee of the party had decided to give him the ticket.
He started his political campaign and incurred expenses of about five lakhs on the campaign, the complaint alleged.
