The Delhi High Court has recently refused to stay the proceedings before a trial court against BJP National Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa in a criminal defamation case lodged by a former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) President Manjit Singh GK.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma pronounced the order on January 24. He said that prima facie, there is no infirmity in the order passed by the magistrate summoning Sirsa or the order of the sessions court dismissing a revision petition lodged by the BJP leader against the magistrate order.
The Delhi High Court therefore concluded that there is no reason to stay the proceedings before the trial court. The court stated that it has found that the learned ASJ has examined in detail, the issue of registration of FIR in relation to letter dated 04.04.2016 and simultaneous proceedings in the present complaint case for commission of offence of defamation. It added that at this stage, the high court does not find any reasons to stay proceedings in the present complaint case.
Earlier on June 30, 2023, the magistrate court had issued summons to BJP National Secretary Sirsa as well as Harmeet Singh Kalka and Jagdeep Singh Kahlon for allegedly making defamatory statements against Manjeet Singh GK.
In the complaint, Manjit Singh had alleged that Sirsa and others co-accused made allegations that Singh was involved in the siphoning off and misappropriation of DSGMC funds. Furthermore, Sirsa and others also allegedly called Manjit Singh a golak chor, meaning thief of money donated to gurudwara and kalankit pradhan, meaning stigmatised president.
Senior Advocate N Hariharan along with advocates Jasprit Singh Rai, Yoginder Handoo and Ashwin Kataria appeared for Manjinder Singh Sirsa. Additional Public Prosecutor Manoj Pant represented the state and Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur with advocates Naginder Benipal, Sumit Misra and Mayank Sharma appeared for complainant Manjit Singh GK.
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