Vivek Tankha patches up with Shivraj Singh Chauhan, withdraws defamation case

Congress MP Vivek Tankha has withdrawn the defamation case against Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan after they settled the matter outside the court. The Supreme Court was informed of the development on Tuesday. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for Chouhan, told the Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh that Chauhan and Tankha met in the Parliament and decided to settle the matter.

“My client and Mr Tankha met in Parliament and settled the matter. We will not take any time except to say that Mr Tankha will withdraw his civil suit for defamation against my client as well as the criminal complaint,” Jethmalani said.

“See, they are Parliamentarians; compared to us, they are more thick-skinned. The language of politicians is different, and being overly sensitive should be avoided as it is part of their job,” responded Justice Sundresh. “We have been informed by senior counsel that the matter has been amicably resolved. We are expressing our appreciation,” said the order.

The case dates back to 2024 when Vivek Tankha filed a criminal defamation complaint against Chouhan, BJP MP Vishnu Datt Sharma, and MLA Bhoopendra Singh. The complaint said that the leaders had defamed him in connection with a Supreme Court case related to the State Panchayat elections. The BJP leaders accused Tankha worked against OBC reservations.

Tankha filed suit for Rs 10 crore compensation.

The trial court took cognizance of the complaint and the Madhya Pradesh High Court subsequently upheld that decision, allowing the case to proceed. Chouhan and other petitioners then moved the Supreme Court, challenging the defamation case.