Gujarat HC Rejects Kejriwal, Singh Separate Trial Requests in Modi Degree Row
Gujarat HC dismisses Kejriwal and Singh's pleas for separate trials in PM degree defamation case.
The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday dismissed appeals by Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh, rejecting their plea for separate trials in a defamation case over comments made about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational degree. The single bench of Justice MR Mengdey upheld lower court rulings that both leaders’ remarks were part of the same transaction and motivated by a common purpose.
The case was filed by Gujarat University registrar Piyush Patel, citing “sarcastic and derogatory” statements made by the AAP leaders during press conferences and on social media in April 2023. The university alleged that these comments deliberately harmed its reputation and were widely circulated with the intent to malign its image.
Kejriwal and Singh had argued for separate trials, claiming that the accusations against them were distinct, including differences in dates and content of the alleged remarks. However, both the trial court and the city sessions court had already rejected these pleas, noting that the statements were made consecutively on April 1 and 2, 2023, and were part of a coordinated effort.
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The court observed that prima facie, a case under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code exists against the leaders. Summons have been issued, and proceedings will continue jointly against Kejriwal and Singh. The decision underscores the judiciary’s stance on treating coordinated defamatory actions as a single legal transaction.
Political observers note that the case stems from comments made shortly after the Gujarat High Court set aside the Chief Information Commissioner’s order directing disclosure of PM Modi’s degree. The remarks, widely reported in media and social media, targeted the university’s credibility and have triggered legal scrutiny.
The verdict by the Gujarat High Court closes one legal avenue for Kejriwal and Singh, who will now face the joint trial, highlighting the challenges political leaders may encounter when making public statements about sensitive issues.
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