Former cricketer and suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad summoned by a Delhi court

Former Indian all-rounder and BJP’s suspended MP Kirti Azad was directed on Monday by a Delhi court to appear before it on 30 May as the all-rounder is accused in a criminal defamation complaint filed by an advocate. Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra summoned the former cricketer for the next date of hearing after his counsel sought his personal exemption for the day.

The court had summoned the cricketer on 9th of December last year, in a defamation complaint filed against him by an advocated named Gautam Dutta. Dutta had alleged that derogatory language was used against him by the Azad in an e-mail to the BCCI ombudsman and others.

Dutta, went on to claim that Azad had sent the email to several people on the 15th of September last year claiming that the complainant used to file false cases to impress Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) officials and others. The court had charged him, saying prima facie offenses under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of IPC are made out against him.

Using derogatory language

“The complete reading of e-mail shows that the complainant is depicted in the negative shade for (allegedly) filing a false case to overawe DDCA officials and other persons. From the content of the e-mail, prima facie ingredients of Sections 499/500 of the IPC are disclosed. Accordingly, Kirti Azad be summoned for the offences…,” the magistrate had said earlier during the hearing.

The court also said that the language used by Azad was severely derogatory and had strong usage of language in the email. Dutta then went on to claim that the e-mail was widely circulated on WhatsApp and it has harmed his (Dutta)’s reputation.

The session had also examined several witnesses in support of his complaint which was against the former cricketer. The court would now have to wait till he appears on 30 May before knowing what his fate would be.