A Delhi court on Friday dismissed a criminal defamation complaint filed by a Delhi police constable against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly addressing Delhi Police personnel as ‘thulla’.
The constable alleged that the Chief Minister had made the remark in a television interview.
Dismissing the complaint, the court said that no case was made out against Mr. Kejriwal.
The complainant had sought prosecution of the Chief Minister under Sections 500 (defamation) and 504 (insult intended to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code.
Stating that he was hurt by the Chief Minister’s remark, the complainant said: “Using a derogatory and demeaning term like 'thulla' to refer to police personnel is equivalent to referring all Delhi Police officials as lethargic and unproductive. This word has, therefore, harmed the reputation of the complainant in the eyes of general public, including his family, relatives and friends.’’
Being in a Constitutional position as the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mr. Kejriwal had immense influence and reach and his words impacted the public perception of the Delhi Police, the complaint said.
Another defamation case on the remark filed by another constable is still pending in a different court.
