The notice relates to allegedly defamatory comments made by Swaraj during a television interview on October 5, 2023.
NEW DELHI: Today (16th Dec): The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has issued a criminal defamation notice to BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj following a petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, former minister, and MLA Satyendar Jain.
The notice relates to allegedly defamatory comments made by Swaraj during a television interview on October 5, 2023.
Jain claims that Swaraj made insulting statements about him in the interview, which was widely broadcast. He asserts that the comments were intended to damage his reputation and gain political advantage. Specifically, Jain accuses Swaraj of falsely claiming that Rs 3 crore in cash, 1.8 kilograms of gold, and 133 gold coins were seized from his residence.
The court has instructed Bansuri Swaraj to appear on December 20, either in person or through her legal representative. On that day, the court will also record the statements of Satyendar Jain and two witnesses involved in the case.
Jain claims that the remarks made have severely damaged his personal and professional reputation, affecting his role as a public representative and his standing within his family and society. He asserts that the accused has tarnished his reputation, and the resulting smear campaign has taken a significant toll on him in various capacities—as a husband, father, brother, friend, and member of society—while also damaging his previously untarnished political image.
Jain further contends that the harm caused by these baseless allegations is immeasurable, as his character and reputation have been deeply attacked, both as an elected official and in his personal life.
Previously, AAP leader Somnath Bharti had approached the Delhi High Court to challenge the victory of BJP’s Bansuri Swaraj in the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, accusing her of winning through “corrupt practices.”
DBharti was the joint candidate of the AAP-Congress alliance, in which the parties contested four and three seats respectively in the national capital. However, the BJP won all seven seats for the third consecutive term.
Bansuri Swaraj, born on January 3, 1984, is the daughter of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. With over 15 years of legal experience, she entered politics in 2024, winning a Lok Sabha seat as a BJP candidate.
