SC issues notice to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today issued notice to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders Shazia Ilmi, Prashant Bhushan and Manish Sisodia on a petition filed by Union telecom minister Kapil Sibal's son Amit in a defamation case against them.

A bench headed by Justice H L Dattu also stayed the Delhi High Court's order of granting exemption to Kejriwal and others from personal appearance before a trial court which is hearing the defamation case filed by Amit Sibal.

The High Court on January 16 had refused to quash defamation proceedings against AAP leaders but had told trial court to consider their discharge plea.

Challenging the order, Amit Sibal said that the High Court cannot confer the power to discharge on a Magistrate in a triable case instituted on a private complaint.

He also submitted that HC granted exemption from personal appearance thought it was not sought by Kejriwal and others.

Amit had filed a defamation suit against Kejriwal and others for alleging that he had taken advantage of his father's position to represent telecom companies and the trial court had issued summons to them on July 24 last year.

The AAP leaders had moved the High Court seeking quashing of the proceedings in trial court.