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The Supreme Court has granted a stay on the criminal defamation proceedings initiated in a Gujarat court against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh regarding his comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic degree. Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta issued the order while rejecting Singh’s plea to transfer the trial outside Gujarat.
Supreme Court Stays Criminal Defamation Case Against AAP MP Sanjay Singh. The court directed the high court to hear the appeal for a stay or interim relief within four weeks, stating, “Till the time the high court decides on grant or refusal of interim relief, proceedings [in the trial court] shall remain stayed.” Singh had sought the transfer on the grounds that the intent was to find him guilty and disqualify him, even as his appeal for a stay was pending before the high court.
Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, is also implicated in the defamation case. The Gujarat court had previously called for Singh’s production, despite being informed that he was under arrest in connection with an alleged money laundering case on December 28.
SC stays Gujarat criminal defamation case against Sanjay Singh. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Singh, argued that the objective was to declare his client guilty and disqualify him, despite the ongoing appeal for a stay. Singhvi emphasized that Singh had not made any remarks against Gujarat University, the complainant in the case.
The bench assured Singhvi that the Supreme Court would address any disqualification order and directed the high court to decide the matter within one month. Singhvi argued that the university is state government-funded and under the overall control of the Union government. The bench questioned the apprehensions raised by Singhvi, who responded by highlighting concerns about the overall system and suggested Kolkata as an alternative venue for the trial.
