The Rouse Avenue Court has officially notified BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor regarding a defamation case initiated by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi.
The court has set the next hearing date for 7 October, during which Kapoor is likely to respond to the allegations against him.
Chief Minister Atishi has appealed against a summons issued by the magistrate court, seeking to challenge its legitimacy before the sessions court.
Case Background
This legal battle stems from a defamation suit filed by Kapoor against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, which the court acknowledged on 28 May.
As it stands, the court has yet to take action against Kejriwal in connection with this case.
In his lawsuit, Kapoor claims that both Kejriwal and Atishi have made unfounded accusations suggesting that BJP leaders received bribes to switch parties, labeling these assertions as entirely baseless.
He argues that such allegations have severely damaged both his personal reputation and that of the BJP.
On 30 April, Kapoor formally lodged the defamation suit, asserting that AAP leaders have not produced any supporting evidence for their claims. Meanwhile, officials recorded his statements on 16 May as part of the proceedings.
The controversy began when Atishi convened a press conference, alleging that the BJP was trying to buy off AAP legislators.
The BJP has staunchly rejected these claims, asserting that an offer of ₹25 crore was made to undermine the Delhi government.
Kapoor’s petition also suggests that Atishi’s allegations arose as her name surfaced in the Delhi excise scam, implying she aimed to divert attention from the scandal by targeting the BJP.
Notably, as these serious accusations surfaced, the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch raided Atishi’s official residence, although she has yet to provide any evidence to support her allegations.
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