Delhi Minister Atishi Granted Bail In High-Profile Defamation Case

A Delhi court granted bail to minister Atishi Marlena in a defamation case by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor, involving AAP poaching allegations. The court required a bail bond of ₹20,000, with the next hearing scheduled for August 8.

A Delhi court granted bail to Delhi minister Atishi Marlena in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor.

The case involves allegations of poaching Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators.

Photo Credit: PTI

The court required Atishi to submit a bail bond of ₹20,000 and one surety of the same amount. Senior advocates Ramesh Gupta and Shailendra Singh, representing Atishi, requested time to review documents before proceeding with arguments.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 8. Kapoor had filed the complaint on April 29, following allegations made by AAP leaders after a CBI and ED investigation into the now-scrapped Delhi liquor excise policy.

Atishi Gets Bail In Defamation Case: All You Need To Know

The court issued summons to Atishi on May 28 after hearing testimonies from complainant witnesses. However, no summons were issued to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. The court that Atishi's statements appeared defamatory and intended to harm Kapoor's reputation among right-thinking members of society.

In April, BJP sent a defamation notice to Atishi after she claimed she was approached to join the party or face arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) within a month. During a press conference, Atishi alleged that the ED planned to arrest her and other AAP leaders.

Atishi Gets Bail: Court's Verdict

The court observed that testimonies from complainant witnesses indicated that Atishi made defamatory statements. "It appears that alleged accused no. 1 (Atishi) by her spoken words and by words which were intended to be read have made defamatory imputations which prima facie have lowered the reputation of the complainant amongst the right-thinking members of society," stated the court.

The case stems from allegations made by AAP leaders against BJP following investigations into the Delhi liquor excise policy. Kapoor's complaint led to the issuance of summons for Atishi but not for Kejriwal.

The matter will continue with further hearings as both parties prepare their arguments. The outcome could impact political dynamics between AAP and BJP in Delhi.