AAP files defamation cases against Sehrawat, party rebels

Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab has filed criminal defamation cases against its Delhi MLA Devender Sehrawat, who had accused the party's state leaders of exploiting women in return for tickets, and former party leaders HS Kingra and Paviter Singh.

AAP's Punjab affairs in-charge Sanjay Singh and National Organisation Building Secretary Durgesh Pathak filed the cases in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chandigarh.

An AAP release said Singh and Pathak filed a joint case of criminal defamation against Sehrawat whose allegations, they said, "defame the women of Punjab".

In Delhi, AAP city Convener Dilip Pandey said he will also file a separate defamation suit against Sehrawat soon.

Responding to it, Sehrawat said he stands by "every word I've written in that letter and when the case comes in the court, we will take appropriate action".

He said filing a defamation case at this time is all "politics and posturing".

"The people will decide who should rule Punjab. Should the Punjabis rule Punjab? Should those rule Punjab who are not even able to start a minor enquiry and find out if an observation has been given and push the thing into the court," he said.

Against former AAP leader Kingra, Singh and Pathak filed separate cases of criminal defamation, as he had leveled separate "false defamatory allegations" against them in a press conference here recently.

The release said Singh and Pathak filed a joint case of criminal defamation in the court against rebel AAP leader Paviter Singh, who levelled allegations against party leaders of demanding money in return for party ticket.

In a joint statement, Singh and Pathak alleged these leaders levelled "hollow and baseless" allegations against them.

On Sehrawat's allegations, the AAP leaders said he tried to "defame the women of Punjab" by making false allegations and has failed to provide any evidence in support of his allegations.

Earlier, AAP's women wing in Punjab had filed complaints against Sehrawat with Women Commission and the Punjab SC Commission.

Meanwhile, Jat Samaj, Najafgarh, has called a 'mahapanchayat' in support of Shehrawat tomorrow near Anaj Mandi, Najafgarh.