Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. File
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar, Sushil Kumar Verma
A Delhi court docket on Friday ordered an investigation into the defamation case filed by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by way of the Delhi police.
The court docket of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Rouse Avenue District Court, Harjeet Singh Jaspal, has requested the Delhi police to examine if the complainant was addressed as ‘an accused’ in the Sanjeevani rip-off by Mr. Gehlot. The police may also examine whether or not the allegations against Mr. Shekhawat or his relations stand proved within the rip-off by the Special Operation Group (SOG) which is investigating the matter in Rajasthan.
Mr. Shekhawat advised the court docket that he and his relations, together with his deceased mom, have been referred to as ‘an accused’ within the Sanjeevani rip-off by Mr. Gehlot. The complaint additionally acknowledged that Mr. Gehlot had stated that the allegations against the complainant stood proved, whereas, as per the complainant, neither he nor any of his relations had been named in any of the chargesheets filed by the SOG within the matter, nor have they ever been summoned by the investigating companies or by the court docket.
As per the FIR filed by the SOG in Jaipur, the stated matter pertains to allegations against the administrators/staff of Sanjeevani Co-operative Society which has usurped big sums of cash of the traders/normal public.
“Whether or not the statements of the accused constitute defamation against the complainant, largely rests upon the investigation being undertaken by the SOG in the Sanjeevani scam matter. What needs to be seen is whether the complainant herein is actually an accused in the said matter or whether the complainant has no bearing/involvement in the said matter. It is on the basis of the answer to these questions the merits of the offence of defamation, as alleged by the complainant, can be decided,” the court docket stated.
Keeping in thoughts the sensitivity of the matter, the court docket directed that the Joint Commissioner involved shall monitor the investigation both himself or by way of an officer not beneath the rank of an Inspector. The investigation report be filed by the following date of listening to, that’s April 25, 2024.
Seeks compensation
To recall, Mr. Shekhawat on March 5 filed a felony defamation swimsuit against Mr. Gehlot for defaming him with remarks on the Sanjeevani rip-off. The complainant, who maintained that the private assault by Mr. Gehlot has deeply harm his status and that of household, demanded that the court docket take authorized motion against the latter and in addition sought applicable compensation.
Welcoming the defamation complaint against him, Mr. Gehlot stated that this would possibly lastly assist transfer the Sanjeevani rip-off case ahead.
“At least 1.5 to 2 lakh people have lost their money. Someone lost ₹1 crore while others have lost ₹50 lakh, ₹25 lakh. Where did that money go?” he questioned, and alleged that many individuals accused within the Sanjeevani rip-off and in jail have direct or oblique connections with Mr. Shekhawat.
