A Delhi court on Saturday summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as an accused in a defamation case for allegedly calling Delhi Police personnel “thulla” last year.
Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey of the Saket courts summoned the chief ministers after recording the pre-summoning evidence by the complainant.
“Prima facie, court is satisfied that offence punishable under Section 499/500 IPC is committed by Arvind Kejriwal, so he be summoned for the same for July 14,” the Magistrate said while summoning the chief minister.
Counsel for the complainant argued that the aggrieved being an employee of the Delhi Police and known in society, among relatives, friends and public at large as the same was defamed by the word used by accused Mr. Kejriwal.
The case has been filed by Delhi Police constable, Harvinder, against the ‘thulla’ remark, allegedly made in reference to the city police personnel by the chief minister in a TV interview last year.
The complainant has 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, Mr. Kejriwal had immense influence and reach and his words impacted the public perception of the Delhi Police, the complaint said.
By using the derogatory and insulting word ‘thulla’ to refer to the police personnel, he had crossed all the limits of decency, the complaint further stated.
Case was filed by Delhi Police constable against the ‘thulla’ remark allegedly made by Kejriwal
