Arvind Kejriwal acquitted in defamation case filed by Sheila Dikshit aide

Agencies
November 5, 2018

New Delhi, Nov 5: A Delhi court today acquitted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a criminal defamation case filed by a former aide of Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, saying that the complainant cannot be said to be an "aggrieved person".

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal granted relief to Mr Kejiriwal in the case lodged by Pawan Khera, the political secretary of Ms Dikshit when she was the chief minister, for remarks allegedly made against her by the AAP leader in a television show during power tariff hike protests in October 2012.

Mr Khera had alleged that Arvind Kejriwal used "false and defamatory" accusations against Ms Dikshit, which also harmed his reputation since he was associated with her.

The court said Mr Khera was not named by Mr Kejriwal and there was no specific legal injury to his reputation.

"The complainant is not a person aggrieved in this case, the words prima facie not defamatory of the complainant and the alleged interview has not been proved as per law. Therefore, this complaint of defamation filed by him is not maintainable," it said.

The court had framed charges against Mr Kejriwal under Section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code in October 2018.

If convicted, the politician could have been sent to a maximum two year jail term.

In his complaint, Mr Khera had alleged that Mr Kejriwal had defamed him and he spoke the defamatory word with an intention to harm his reputation.

Advocate Mohd Irshad, appearing for Mr Kejriwal, had told the court that Mr Khera was not a member of the Congress nor he has disclosed in clear terms his relationship with Ms Dikshit.

He had submitted that Mr Kejriwal had not said anything against the political secretary.

Mr Kejriwal had opposed the complaint on the grounds that it has been filed by Mr Khera and not by Ms Dikshit herself.

According to the complaint, in October 2012, Mr Kejriwal had organised several protests against "power tariff hike in the national capital and had accused the then Delhi government of stalling Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission's move to cut power tariff by 23 per cent in 2010".

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News Network
May 15,2020

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala activist Rehana Fathima has been asked to take compulsory retirement from BSNL after she was embroiled in Sabarimala row.

Stating that her attempt to enter the shrine of celibate god in 2018 had spoiled the reputation of the company among customers, the BSNL, in its order asked her to take compulsory retirement, further claiming that her acts were “subversive of discipline and amount to misconduct”.

She was suspended from service following her arrest in November 2018 over Facebook posts.

Fathima, who is a technician with the state-run communications company, said she will explore legal remedies against the order sent by her employer.

The Fathima hit headlines when she attempted to enter the Sabarimala shrine, which has traditionally been closed to women in the age group of 10-50 years.

She did after the Supreme Court order allowing entry of women in the age group of 10-50.

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News Network
March 29,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 29: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday expressed his concern over the ''non-cooperation from the Karnataka Government in removing the roadblocks erected by them in the roads bordering Malapuram district''.

Addressing a press conference at the Government Secretariat, the Chief Minister said, "Karnataka has not heeded to our request to remove the roadblocks. I have been trying to contact their Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa but not able to reach him."

"We have briefed the Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and he has offered to resolve the issue. Our Chief Secretary has also briefed the Central Cabinet Secretary and we expect a resolution soon," he added.

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News Network
June 13,2020

New Delhi, June 13: A quarantine notice pasted outside former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 3, Motilal Nehru Place residence has raised speculations among media and political circles.

According to reports, the daughter of a domestic help who works at Singh’s residence has tested positive. She and her family, who live in the servant quarters, have been quarantined.

Singh, who has not been keeping well for some time, is slowly getting active. Congress leaders said the former Prime Minister attended a meeting of the party’s consultative committee on Thursday through video conference.

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