Delhi Court Summons Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot in Defamation Case Filed by Union Minister

New Delhi: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday received a summons from Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court in relation to a defamation case filed against him by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The case is connected to an alleged Rs 900-crore credit society scam. The court has instructed Gehlot to appear on August 7, following the order issued by Special Judge Justice Harjeet Singh Jaspal of the MP-MLA court.

In April, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Jal Shakti Minister, approached the Rouse Avenue Court, accusing the chief minister of defaming him and falsely implicating him in the Sanjivani Credit Society scam. Shekhawat stated that his name was not linked to the case during the Rajasthan government’s investigation. Consequently, Shekhawat sought criminal defamation charges against Gehlot under the Indian Penal Code and requested appropriate compensation for the damage to his reputation.

The Rouse Avenue Court had previously reserved its decision on whether to issue a summons to the chief minister in this criminal defamation case. Now, with the summons issued, Gehlot is required to appear before the court on August 7.