By P D Singh
In a big jolt to Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot in the defamation case filed by union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Rouse Avenue court has rejected the petition of Gehlot in which he has requested for acquittal on the basis of the fact that the complainant Gajendra Singh Shekhawat didn't appear before the court on hearing dates.
The court dismissed Gehlot's plea and now the Rajasthan chief minister will have to face the court proceedings in defamation case.
The Rouse Avenue Court Judge Harjeet Singh Jaspal will hear the case on the next hearing scheduled on September 25, 2023.
Today, both Shekhawat and Gehlot had requested for exemption from personal appearance, which court had agreed to.
The Case:
Shekhawat had filed the defamation case against Gehlot in March this year, stating that an investigation was initiated into the Sanjivani case but his name was not mentioned anywhere, and demanded the prosecution of Gehlot for criminal defamation under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
He also demanded appropriate financial compensation for the loss of his reputation.
Gehlot had said after a budget review meeting at the state secretariat on February 21, 2023 that the entire Shekhawat family, including his parents and wife, were involved in the Rs 900 crore Sanjeevani scam.
Gehlot had also welcomed the filing of the defamation case, saying: “At least the case will move forward on this pretext.”
The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.
