Today, On 3rd February, The Delhi High Court summoned Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Chandrasekhar alleges that Tharoor made false statements during the 2024 General Elections, damaging his reputation. He is seeking Rs.10 crore in damages along with a public apology. The court has asked Tharoor to respond to the allegations.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has summoned Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor in a civil defamation lawsuit filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajeev Chandrashekhar.
Chandrashekhar alleges that Tharoor made false and defamatory remarks during the 2024 General Elections.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav presided over the case, hearing arguments from Chandrashekhar, who requested a court order to prevent Tharoor from making further defamatory statements, along with a public apology and compensation for damages.
The court issued a notice to Tharoor through all available means and requested his response by April 28, 2025. In his lawsuit, Chandrashekhar claims that Tharoor’s statements during the April 2024 election campaign severely harmed his personal and professional reputation.
Both Chandrashekhar and Tharoor were competing for a parliamentary seat in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency of Kerala, with Tharoor ultimately winning the election. Amid their intense rivalry, Chandrashekhar reportedly sent Tharoor a legal notice for defamation after Tharoor accused him of attempting to bribe influential figures, including parish priests, for votes.
Following this, Chandrashekhar approached the High Court to seek an injunction against Tharoor’s further defamatory remarks, a public apology, and Rs.10 crores in damages for the alleged harm to his reputation.
Tharoor also accused of breaching sub-section 3 of section 123 of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951, by appealing to voters’ religious identities a practice deemed corrupt by the Supreme Court in the Abhiram Singh vs. CD Commachen case (Civil Appeal No. 37/1992).
Chandrashekhar is represented by Senior Advocate Vaibhav Gaggar, who is supported by the legal team from M/S Karanjawala and Co., including Senior Partner Meghna Mishra, Principal Associate Ankit Rajgarhia, and Associate Palak Sharma.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 28, 2025, before the joint registrar. In addition to this civil defamation suit, Chandrasekhar had previously filed a criminal defamation complaint against Tharoor in 2024, which is currently under consideration in the Rouse Avenue Courts.