Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state BJP chief V D Sharma, and former state minister Bhupendra Singh have been issued a bailable warrant by a court in Jabalpur. This comes after they did not furnish undertakings in a criminal defamation case filed against them. The complaint was lodged by Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha.
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MP: A court in Jabalpur has escalated proceedings against notable political figures from Madhya Pradesh, including the former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the state’s BJP chief V D Sharma, and the ex-state minister Bhupendra Singh, by issuing bailable warrants against them.
This judicial action stems from their failure to submit necessary undertakings concerning a criminal defamation lawsuit. The origin of this legal battle traces back to allegations made by Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha, culminating in a formal complaint that precipitated these proceedings.
The court, specifically a special tribunal designated for adjudicating cases involving Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, mandated by Magistrate Vishveshwari Mishra, has ordered the trio to make a court appearance on the 7th of May. This directive was communicated by their legal representative, Shyam Vishwakarma, who disclosed the court’s earlier decision to grant Chouhan and his colleagues a reprieve from personal appearances until June 7, 2024.
This leniency was contingent upon the provision of certain undertakings by the accused, the nature of which remains somewhat nebulous as per statements from their attorney, Vishvakarma. The confusion over the specific undertakings necessitated a subsequent plea for clarification from the accused BJP leaders, which was filed in court this Tuesday. The precise content and stipulations of the court’s most recent order remain undisclosed at this juncture.
The crux of this legal confrontation lies in accusations levelled by Tankha, who, in addition to his political career, is a distinguished Supreme Court lawyer and former Advocate General for the state. Tankha has accused the BJP leaders of besmirching his reputation through unfounded claims regarding his involvement in a Supreme Court case related to the OBC quota in the 2021 Panchayat elections within the state.
In a move to redress the alleged defamation, Tankha has also initiated a civil defamation lawsuit against Sharma, Chouhan, and Singh, wherein he seeks compensatory damages to the tune of Rs 10 crore. This case underscores the intricate entanglement of politics and law, highlighting the severe implications of political discourse on individual reputations and the legal recourse available in the face of defamation.
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