Spoof leaves Nitin Gadkari team embarrassed before Delhi High Court

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Nitin Gadkari's counsels were on Tuesday left embarrassed before the Delhi high court after one of the counsels cited a "news story", which claimed that one of the AAP leaders said the magistrate who sent Kejriwal to jail needed to be taught law all over again.

While the counsel referred to the news to show that such statements were contemptuous, it turned out that the "news item" cited was actually a satire on Aam Aadmi Party by a website which spoofs news. Realizing the goof-up, the lawyer immediately withdrew the submission and said it was an "inadvertent mistake".

During the hearing on Kejriwal's habeas corpus petition, Gadkari's lawyers also referred to the "open letter" by Kejriwal to show his conduct. The open letter, purportedly written by Kejriwal stated, "I took on former BJP president Nitin Gadkari and exposed him, but he is roaming scot-free and I have been put in jail. They asked me to take bail, but what crime have I committed to take bail?"

On Monday, a petition was also moved in the Delhi high court seeking ban on publication and circulation of Kejriwal's letter questioning court orders sending him to judicial custody and also levelling allegations against Gadkari. The PIL had also sought blocking of the AAP website till the letter was withdrawn from it.

It also sought a ban on the letter on the ground that it "would entice people" not to follow rule of law. The HC will hear the plea on Wednesday.