Counsel’s remarks scandalous, let Kejriwal step into box: HC

New Delhi, May 18

The Delhi High Court today termed as “scandalous” certain remarks made by Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer Ram Jethmalani against Arun Jaitley during his cross-examination in a civil defamation suit.

Justice Manmohan said if such remarks were made on Kejriwal’s instructions, then he should “first step into the box” and make good his allegations. “If such allegations have been made on instructions of Defendant 1 (Kejriwal), then no point in continuing with the cross-examination of plaintiff (Jaitley) any more. Let Defendant 1 make good his allegations. Let him step into the box,” the Judge observed.

Jaitley’s advocates Rajiv Nayar and Sandeep Sethi had raised the issue before the court, saying they wanted to know from Kejriwal whether the remarks were made on his instructions. Nayar said if Kejriwal had indeed instructed Jethmalani to make the adverse remark, they would then seek additional aggravated damages of Rs10 crore from him. If Jethmalani had on his own made the remark, then it would be a violation of the Bar Council of India rules.

The court said such manner of cross-examination could not be allowed. It directed Jaitley’s lawyers to file an application with regard to the adverse remarks made against him. “What is to be done when such scandalous remarks are made. It’s unpleasant,” Justice Manmohan said, adding that “cross-examination should be carried out in accordance with law”.

Jethmalani had made the remarks yesterday before Joint Registrar Deepali Sharma as Jaitley was being cross-examined in the Rs10-crore civil defamation case filed by him against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders, accusing him of financial irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association of which he was president from 2000-2013. AAP leaders Raghav Chadha, Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Sanjay Singh and Deepak Bajpai, along with Kejriwal, are also facing a criminal defamation case filed by Jaitley.

The issue cropped up before Justice Manmohan who was hearing an application moved by Chadha for making amendments to his written submission in reply to Jaitley’s plea. — PTI