Rajeev Chandrasekhar filed a defamation case against Shashi Tharoor following remarks made by Tharoor on a Malayalam news channel. Tharoor allegedly claimed that Chandrasekhar offered money to voters during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.
New Delhi: New Delhi: Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar filed a criminal defamation complaint against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram in a Delhi Court.
The case arises from remarks made by Tharoor during the recent Lok Sabha elections, which Chandrasekhar claims defamatory and damaging to his reputation.
According to Chandrasekhar, Tharoor, in an interview with a news channel during the elections, accused him of engaging in vote bribery. Chandrasekhar believes these allegations are both false and harmful, prompting him to seek legal recourse by filing a defamation case.
Additionally, the complaint mentions another interview with TV News Byte, where Tharoor allegedly stated that several individuals had informed him of Chandrasekhar’s involvement in voter bribery. Chandrasekhar contends that these remarks have tarnished his reputation, leading him to pursue legal action against Tharoor.
The defamation case filed in Delhi’s Patiala House Court, but the judge noted that, since Tharoor is a sitting Member of Parliament, the court lacks jurisdiction over the matter. As a result, the case may need to be transferred to a court with the appropriate authority to proceed.
The Delhi High Court scheduled to hear the transfer petition related to the defamation case on August 13, but the matter was not addressed. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna expected to hear the transfer petition on August 21.
The complaint highlights that Shashi Tharoor allegedly made unfounded and baseless accusations against Rajeev Chandrasekhar through various news channels and online platforms. It argues that Tharoor’s failure to verify these allegations before making them public significantly damaged their credibility.
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The complaint further states that on April 9, 2024, Chandrasekhar issued a legal notice to Tharoor, accusing him of defamation over claims that Chandrasekhar was involved in voter bribery in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. These claims also extended to leaders and representatives of religious and community organizations.
The notice demanded that Tharoor retract his false statements and issue an unconditional public apology. However, Tharoor neither responded to the notice nor withdrew his statements or offered an apology.