Summons to Tharoor in defamation case: Delhi court to pass order on February 4

A Delhi court would on February 4 decide whether to summon Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in a criminal defamation case field by BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The order, scheduled to be pronounced on Monday, got adjourned as additional chief judicial magistrate Paras Dalal was on leave.



Chandrasekhar alleged Tharoor defamed him by making false and derogatory imputations on national television by claiming that the BJP leader bribed voters in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency during 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Tharoor, said Chandrasekhar, made the allegations with the intent to lower his reputation and to impact the result of the last general elections while “knowing fully well that the statements were false".

“The interview(s) was/were published by various news channels as well as on social media platforms at the behest of the proposed accused and resulted in loss of reputation of the complainant in the society, which ultimately resulted in the complainant losing the Lok Sabha Elections, 2024,” his complaint said.


The court on September 21, 2024 took cognisance of the complaint.

In a related development, the Delhi High Court on Monday summoned Tharoor in a defamation suit where Chandrasekhar sought Rs 10 crore in damages for loss of reputation.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav posted the matter on April 28.
"Let the plaint be registered as a suit. Issue summons to the defendant (Tharoor). List before the joint registrar on April 28," said the court.