A city court on Tuesday framed criminal defamation charges against former Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta in a complaint filed by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. “Charge under Section 500 of IPC (defamation) is framed against the accused (Gupta) to which he pleads not guilty and claims trial,” Metropolitan Magistrate Namrita Aggarwal said.
The court also directed Dikshit to appear before it on October 28 to record her evidence against Gupta.
In her complaint, Dikshit had alleged that the BJP leader had used uncivilised language against her in the run-up to MCD polls last year.
The court had on July 1 found that, prima facie, an offence of defamation is made out against Gupta. On Tuesday, Gupta pleaded not guilty to the charge and said, “I am feeling humiliated. If you (court) go through the interview, nowhere have I used any defamatory word against the Chief Minister. If I am guilty, put me in jail right away.”
The counsel for Dikshit moved an exemption application, which was opposed by Gupta’s counsel Ajay Burman saying the date of hearing was already in her knowledge and, therefore, there was no ground for her to seek exemption.
On this, the judge said, “As on next date her evidence is to be recorded.... Therefore, whenever the court requires attendance of either the accused or the complainant, they will have to come before it. That court does not favour anyone.”