Arvind Kejriwal gets relief from Supreme Court
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal acknowledged his error in retweeting a purportedly defamatory video linked to the BJP IT Cell, circulated by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee. Appearing before the Supreme Court, Kejriwal expressed regret over the retweet and sought closure in a criminal defamation case against him.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta refrained from issuing notice on Kejriwal’s plea challenging a Delhi High Court order that upheld summons issued to him as an accused in the case.
The bench inquired whether the complainant intended to close the matter following the chief minister’s apology. Additionally, the trial court was directed not to proceed with the defamation case involving Kejriwal until March 11.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, admitted to the mistake, stating, “I can say this much that I made a mistake by retweeting.” The High Court, in its judgment dated February 5, emphasized that reposting alleged libelous content would fall under defamation law.
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The High Court stressed the need for responsibility while retweeting content without adequate knowledge and stated that retweeting defamatory content should invite legal action unless accompanied by a disclaimer.
Kejriwal contended in the High Court that his tweet was not intended to harm the complainant, Vikas Sankrityayan. His plea highlighted the trial court’s failure to provide reasons for issuing summons, asserting that the orders lacked judicial application of mind.
In 2018, Rathee posted a tweet accusing the founder and operator of a Twitter page called ‘I Support Narendra Modi’ of behaving like ‘BJP IT CELL Part-2’. Kejriwal retweeted this tweet, which led to the founder moving a defamation plea against the CM. The operator alleged that the chief minister retweeted without checking its authenticity.
The matter will continue to be heard in the Supreme Court, with the next hearing scheduled for March 11.
The case underscores the legal ramifications of social media interactions and the importance of exercising caution in sharing content online. Kejriwal’s acknowledgment of his mistake signals a shift in the trajectory of the proceedings, potentially paving the way for resolution through apology and closure.
