Defamation complaint against Tharoor dismissed
A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed a criminal defamation complaint filed by BJP leader and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
The complaint, accused Tharoor of defaming Chandrasekhar by alleging he had bribed voters in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency during elections.
In his ruling, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Paras Dalal stated the complaint did not meet the essential criteria for criminal defamation. “It is settled law that imputation for criminal defamation must be direct, alternative or expressed ironically. In this case, there is no imputation by the proposed accused against Rajeev Chandrasekhar that is direct, alternative or ironic,” the court said.
Chandrasekhar, a senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP, had claimed Tharoor’s comments in a televised interview harmed his reputation and misled the public.