The Delhi High Court has asked the trial court for not initiating any action against BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Manoj Tiwari in the criminal defamation case which was filed against him by former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
After noting that proceedings against other co-accused like BJP leaders Vijender Gupta, Hans Raj Hans and Manjinder Singh Sirsa have either been quashed or stayed, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma gave the order for not initiating any action action against Manoj Tiwari.
The Court ordered that in the meanwhile, since proceedings against other accused have been stayed, let no further steps be taken qua the present petitioner.
Tiwari and five other BJP leaders were suedby Manish Sisodia for defamation after they alleged that he was involved in a scam of nearly ₹2,000 crore related to the construction of new classrooms in Delhi’s government schools.
Summons were issued in the case in November 2019 by the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM).
The Supreme Court, on October 2022, had dismissed Manoj Tiwari’s appeal to quash the case.
Advocate Bansuri Swaraj who appeared for Tiwari today said that since the apex court’s order, there has been a change in circumstances, as Central agencies are now investigating Sisodia for corruption.
The counsel said that Sisodia had filed the criminal defamation case claiming he had unimpeachable character and a stellar reputation.
Advocate Rishikesh Kumar who appeared for Sisodia argued that Tiwari’s petition was an abuse of process of law.
The counsel for Sisodia stated that all these pleas were already taken in previous cases and there are no subsequent facts. He further said that a stay on proceedings would be prejudicial as the matter has not seen any progress for nearly five years.
The order was passed by the Bench, asking the trial court not to take action against Tiwari and listed the petition for further consideration in November.