Today, Gujarat Sessions Court at Ahmedabad refusesed to quash summons to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and MP Sanjay Singh who had challenged a magistrate order summoning them for making allegedly defamatory statements concerning the academic degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The matter was heard before Additional Sessions Judge JM Brahmbhatt

The initial summons against the two politicians were issued by a Magistrate court in April this year, following the University's complaint. On April 17, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jayeshbhai Chovatiya found that the statements made by Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh were prima facie defamatory. This judgment was based on various forms of evidence, including a pen drive containing Kejriwal's tweets and speeches made after a Gujarat High Court ruling. The High Court had ruled in favor of the University, stating that it was not obligated to disclose PM Modi's degree and fined Kejriwal ₹25,000 in the process.

The magistrate highlighted that the accused politicians, being well-educated political office bearers, were fully aware of the impact of their statements on the general public. The court emphasized that when political office bearers deviate from fulfilling their responsibilities to the public and engage in actions driven by personal animosity or self-interest, it constitutes a breach of the public's trust.

The judge had reserved the matter for orders on September 8.