Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday told the Supreme Court that he made a mistake by retweeting a "defamatory" video by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee against BJP IT Cell in 2018, prompting the top court to ask the trial court not to proceed against him in the defamation case.
"I do not mind saying it is a mistake if I knew this was the consequence," senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for Kejriwal, submitted before a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta.
Singhvi was arguing before the top court against the Delhi High Court's refusal to quash the defamation complaint filed against Kejriwal for retweeting the video.
The bench asked counsel for complainant to seek instructions if the petitioner was saying it was a mistake to retweet was sufficient.
The court also said the question whether the retweet amounted to endorsement was a matter of evidence in the case of this nature.
As Singhvi contended they were expediting the trial on the eve of polls, the bench said it can ask the trial court not to proceed in the matter.
"In the interim, the trial court will not take up the matter," the bench said, posting the matter for consideration on March 18.
The Delhi High Court earlier this month upheld summons issued to Kejriwal as an accused in a criminal defamation case for retweeting an allegedly defamatory video circulated by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in May 2018.
Complainant Vivek Sankrityayan claimed the YouTube video with the title 'BJP IT Cell Part II' was circulated by Rathee, who lives in Germany, "wherein a number of false and defamatory allegations were made".