A Delhi court dismissed BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor’s defamation complaint against Chief Minister Atishi, ruling her remarks were aimed at the BJP as a whole, not individuals. This ruling benefits Atishi ahead of elections, allowing her to campaign effectively despite political tensions and corruption charges against fellow AAP leaders.
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday (Jan 28th) dismissed a defamation complaint filed by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. The Rouse Avenue Court ruled that Atishi’s alleged remarks were directed at the BJP as a whole and not at individual members, leading to the quashing of the summons issued against her.
The case dates back to April 2024, when Atishi, then a minister in Arvind Kejriwal’s cabinet, alleged that she and other AAP leaders were approached by individuals linked to the BJP. She claimed they were asked to “join the BJP or face arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) within a month.”
Kapoor, who filed the defamation case, insisted these allegations were baseless and claimed that Atishi and other AAP leaders had failed to provide any material evidence to substantiate their claims. The remarks were made a month before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, adding fuel to the political fire.
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The court noted that the alleged statement was targeted at the BJP as an organization, rather than any specific individual. Based on this reasoning, it decided to quash the summons issued against Atishi. This ruling comes as a relief for the AAP, particularly as Delhi prepares for its upcoming elections, where Atishi is seeking re-election from her Kalkaji constituency.
Atishi’s statement came during a politically charged period, as senior AAP leaders, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia, were jailed on corruption charges related to the Delhi liquor excise policy scam. During this time, Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj, AAP’s MLA from Greater Kailash, emerged as the party’s most prominent leaders.
The BJP had dismissed Atishi’s allegations as politically motivated and aimed at garnering sympathy ahead of the elections. However, the dismissal of the defamation case gives Atishi and the AAP a much-needed boost just before voters head to the polls.
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The court’s decision will likely be seen as a vindication for Atishi and the AAP, especially as the party looks to retain its foothold in Delhi. The ruling underscores the importance of distinguishing individual defamation from remarks made about political organizations as a whole.
As the elections approach, this development could strengthen Atishi’s campaign in Kalkaji and bolster the AAP’s narrative against its political opponents. The ruling also shifts focus back to Delhi’s political landscape, where Atishi has positioned herself as a key figure in the absence of Kejriwal and Sisodia.
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