New Delhi: A city court today recorded the statement of Sheila Dikshit's ex-political secretary who has filed a defamation case against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his alleged remarks against his predecessor during protests over power tariff hike in October 2012.
The court also granted exemption to Kejriwal from personal appearance for the day after his counsel moved an application on the ground that being the Chief Minister, he was engaged in meetings through the day and had no objection if the complainant's evidence was recorded in his absence.
"He has utmost respect for the judicial process and his absence in today's proceedings is not willful or intentional," Kejriwal's counsel said in the exemption plea, adding that his client "has no objection if evidence of the complainant is recorded in his absence, neither shall he be disputing his identity in future."
During the hearing, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Savitri recorded the statement of complainant Pawan Khera, who was represented by advocate Mehmood Pracha, as he testified that Kejriwal had used "foul and filthy" language against Dikshit in a television show in 2012.
Khera, former Officer on Special Duty and Political Secretary to Dikshit, said due to Kejriwal's language, said his reputation and esteem as well as of others working with the then Chief Minister in her office had been lowered in the eyes of general public, friends and social circle.
The court fixed the case for August 1 when Khera would be cross-examined by Kejriwal's counsel.
It had earlier granted bail to Kejriwal but he had refused to furnish personal or surety bond and given a written undertaking that he would appear in court as and when called.
The court had earlier in 2013 framed defamation charges against Kejriwal and put him on trial after he had pleaded not guilty in the case. While framing the charges, the court had said Kejriwal had defamed Khera and uttered defamatory words with an intention to harm his reputation.
Kejriwal, while pleading not guilty, had said in the court that Khera was not an aggrieved person and contended that the complaint against him was false.
Kejriwal is accused of defaming Dikshit by making "baseless" allegations against her in 2012 during protests over the power tariff hike.
The Aam Aadmi Party leader had opposed the complaint on the ground that it was filed by Khera and not Dikshit.
In his complaint, Khera had said that in October 2012, Kejriwal had organised several protests against "the power tariff hike in the national capital and accused the then government of stalling Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission's move to cut power tariff by 23 per cent in 2010".
