Arvind Kejriwal, 3 others put on trial in defamation case

NEW DELHI: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan and two others were today put on trial by a court here on charges of defamation in a complaint filed by ex-Telecom minister Kapil Sibal's son Amit Sibal.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sunil Kumar Sharma framed charges against Kejriwal, Bhushan, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia and Shazia Ilmi, who has quit the party, under section 500 (defamation) of the IPC.

The four accused were put on trial by the court after they did not plead guilty to the offence and claimed trial.

The court has now fixed the matter for January 17, 2015 for recording of evidence.

The court had on July 24 last year summoned Kejriwal, Sisodia, Bhushan and Ilmi in the criminal defamation case filed by Amit, who is a senior lawyer.

Amit had alleged that AAP leaders had said that he had taken advantage of his father's position to represent a telecom company in court cases here.

On April 15, the Supreme Court had declined to stay the proceedings in the case in the trial court and had said it can only expedite the hearing.