New Delhi, 09 June (H.S.):

The Rouse Avenue Court has granted time to Delhi Government Minister Parvesh Verma, the complainant in a criminal defamation case filed against Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj, to record his statement before the court. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Mittal directed that the matter be taken up for further hearing on July 4.

Earlier, the case was being heard by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal. On June 8, Magistrate Dalal recused himself from hearing the matter. Prior to that, on May 22, he had directed Parvesh Verma to record his statement on June 9 and June 11.

In his criminal defamation complaint, Parvesh Verma alleged that Saurabh Bharadwaj made false accusations against him on May 15 and May 16 with the intention of tarnishing his reputation. According to the complaint, Bharadwaj claimed that Verma had misused his position as a minister to appoint an alleged associate as a trustee in a private school trust reportedly valued at nearly ₹500 crore.

The complaint further states that Bharadwaj also alleged that Verma had acted in favour of school employees who are accused in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Verma contended that these statements and social media posts were deliberately made to damage his public image and reputation in the eyes of society.

In connection with the same allegations, Parvesh Verma has also filed a civil defamation suit against Saurabh Bharadwaj before the Delhi High Court. In the civil defamation petition, Verma has sought damages amounting to ₹5 crore from Bharadwaj.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar