Delhi Elections 2025: Major relief for Atishi as court allows appeal against summons in defamation case

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday, January 28 allowed the appeal moved by Delhi CM Atishi against a summons issued to her in a defamation case, news agency ANI reported.

Special judge Vishal Gogne passed the order on the appeal filed by the AAP leader against an order of a magisterial court that issued a summons to Atishi on the complaint of BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor.

Earlier in April 2024, Atishi had alleged that she and other AAP leaders had been approached by individuals linked to the BJP who demanded she join the party or face ‘arrest’ by the Enforcement Directorate within a month.

Following this, a case was filed by the BJP's Praveen Shankar Kapoor, who stated that Atishi's claims against the BJP were false and that none of them had furnished any material to substantiate their allegations.

The development occurred a month before Delhi was set to vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It sparked a furore within the AAP, as senior leaders, including party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia, were in jail on corruption charges linked to the alleged Delhi liquor excise policy scam.

At that time, Atishi was one of the party's two most high-profile leaders. The other AAP leader linked to the case was Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj.

The Rouse Avenue Court's ruling will relieve the AAP and the Delhi Chief Minister. Both—Atishi and Praveen Shankar Kapoor—are preparing for next week's Delhi Election.

‘Poisoned water’

Meanwhile, Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit of the New Delhi Assembly constituency on Tuesday wrote to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and the Delhi Police Commissioner, seeking immediate action against AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and CM Atishi for their controversial statements about Delhi's water supply.

In the letter, Dikshit condemned Kejriwal's recent claims that the water supply to Delhi had been ‘poisoned’.

"I am writing to you for strict and immediate action against Arvind Kejriwal who made shocking and irresponsible statements to the press yesterday alleging that Delhi's water supply had been 'poisoned' and that the neighbouring state's government had planned a 'genocide' against the people of Delhi," ANI quoted Dikshit as writing.

He also slammed the timing of Kejriwal's remarks during the ongoing election campaign. “While election campaigning is on, issues must be raised before the people but statements that lead to panic public disorder and blame a Government of genocide cannot be allowed without adequate proof,” Dikshit said.

Dikshit further accused CM Atishi of supporting these baseless claims, escalating the situation. “Atishi Marlena has also supported the statements of her party leader saying that poisoning is a reference to the PPM count in the waters of the Yamuna,” Dikshit noted.

He questioned the credibility of these allegations, asking, “Has the PPM count in the Yamuna exceeded the applicable limit for the first time?”

The Assembly elections in Delhi for 70 seats will take place on February 5, and the counting of votes will begin on February 8.

With agency inputs.