Delhi Court Summons AAP’s Atishi In Defamation Case Over 'Poaching' Remark

A Delhi court has issued a summons to Atishi, the Delhi minister and AAP leader, in response to a defamation case filed by Praveen Shankar Kapoor, the media head of Delhi BJP. Atishi has been directed to appear before the court on June 29.

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court summons Delhi Minister Atishi to appear before it on June 29, in relation to a defamation case filed by BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor.

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This case pertains to allegations by Atishi that the BJP tried to bribe and attract AAP legislators. Kapoor, who also included Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the defamation case, asserted that the accusations had harmed his and his party's reputation. In response to the allegations, the court acknowledged Atishi as an accused and instructed her to appear on June 29.

The BJP leader had filed the defamation case on April 30, alleging that AAP leaders failed to furnish any material to substantiate their poaching claims. In his court application, Kapoor referenced a social media post by Arvind Kejriwal, where the AAP leader alleged that the BJP had approached seven AAP MLAs and was offering Rs 25 crore to lure them to switch sides.

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He also cited Atishi's statement claiming that she had received an offer to join the BJP to "save" her "political career", with the implication that she would otherwise face arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.

At a press conference in April, Atishi stated that the BJP had approached her through someone very close, urging her to join their party to save her political career. She also claimed that they threatened to arrest her within a month if she did not switch sides.

The AAP leader also alleged that she, along with party colleagues Saurabh Bharadwaj, Raghav Chadha, and Durgesh Pathak, would be arrested within the next two months. In his petition, the BJP leader requested the withdrawal of the remarks made by Atishi and demanded an apology to be broadcast on TV and social media.

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