Defamation Case: Supreme Court Extend Relief To Shivraj Singh Chauhan

The Supreme Court upheld the relief granted to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in a defamation case.

A bench of Justice MM Sundaresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal will hear the case next on March 26.

Chauhan will remain exempt from personal appearance until then.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court had refused to quash the defamation case filed against Chauhan and two others.

The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the bailable warrant against Chauhan would not depend on his participation in the court proceedings.

Allegations And Legal Standpoint

Congress MP Vivek Tankha filed the defamation case against Chauhan, Madhya Pradesh BJP President VD Sharma, and former minister Bhupendra Singh.

Tankha alleged that defamatory statements were made before the 2021 Madhya Pradesh Panchayat elections, where he was called anti-OBC.

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, representing Chauhan, argued that the statements mentioned in the complaint were placed in the House. He claimed that Article 194(2) of the Constitution protects such statements made in the Legislature from court proceedings.

Background Of The Defamation Case

On October 25, the Madhya Pradesh High Court rejected Chauhan’s plea to dismiss the defamation case.

On January 20, 2024, the Special Court of Jabalpur registered the case under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code and issued summons to Chauhan, Sharma, and Singh.

Tankha’s complaint claimed that the BJP leaders’ remarks harmed his reputation during the 2021 elections. The court will continue the hearing on March 26.

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