Kapil Sibal to Represent BJP’s Subramanian Swamy in Defamation Case Against Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga
In a surprising development at the Delhi High Court, it was announced that Senior Advocate and former Congress leader, Kapil Sibal, will be representing Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy. The case in question is a defamation suit filed by another BJP leader, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, against Swamy.
Bagga’s lawsuit stems from allegations that Swamy, who boasts a following of over 10 million on Twitter, disseminated a
“false and incorrect”
tweet. This tweet accused Bagga of having been incarcerated multiple times prior to his association with the BJP.
Following the issuance of summons by the trial court in response to this suit, Swamy moved to challenge them. On April 4, 2022, Delhi the High Court intervened, putting a stay on the summons.
During the recent hearing presided over by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, advocate Satya Sabharwal appeared on behalf of Swamy. Sabharwal informed the court of the unexpected alliance, stating that Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal would be representing Swamy in the matter. He further requested an adjournment, citing Sibal’s preoccupation with the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench in the Article 370 case. Acknowledging the request, Justice Sharma rescheduled the hearing for October 4.
This collaboration between Sibal and Swamy is particularly intriguing given their history of legal confrontations. The two legal stalwarts have previously squared off in several cases, most notably in the National Herald case. Moreover, Swamy has publicly criticized Sibal for his representation of the Sunni Wakf Board in the Ram Janmabhoomi case. Swamy had taken to Twitter on December 5, 2017, stating,
“Kapil Sibal will be defending the claim of Sunni Wakf Board against Ram Mandir for fat fee. Some Shiva Bakhts!!”
This unexpected alliance underscores the unpredictable nature of legal battles and the importance of professional integrity over political affiliations.