Defamation case against Rabri Devi to be heard on May 13

Patna, May 4 (ANI): A defamation case against former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi for making inflammatory remarks against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' will be heard on May 13.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) A K Jha, who heard the matter, fixed the next date after Rajiv Ranjan Singh failed to appear before the court today because he was sick.

On April 13, Rajiv Ranjan Singh had filed a defamation case against Rabri Devi.The complaint said such malicious and slanderous statements did not behove a former Chief Minister.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate A. K. Jha received the case under Section 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

On April 5, at an election rally in Saran parliamentary constituency, Rabri Devi had allegedly described Nitish Kumar and Lalan as being "brothers-in-law".

On April 6, senior advocate Ashutosh Ranjan Pandey filed a petition in the Patna High Court against Rabri Devi, seeking criminal contempt proceedings against her.

He also charged Rabri Devi of scandalizing and lowering the authority of the judiciary.

The JD (U) also urged the Election Commission (EC) to bar Rabri Devi from participating in election campaigns and also asked for a termination of her membership from the Bihar State Assembly. (ANI)