There was more trouble for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP and leader, Sanjay Singh, as the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed his appeal against the issuance of summons issued by a Gujarat trial court in a defamation case filed by Gujarat University over his alleged comments relating to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic degree.
Singh, who is an accused in the Delhi excise policy scam case, was recently granted bail in the case by the apex court.
A bench of the top court, headed by Justice BR Gavai and also comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta, did not allow the appeal of Singh and said, "We cannot interfere with the High Court order which had also refused to stay the trial. There is no merit in your prayer."
The Gujarat High Court in February had dismissed the petition filed by Singh seeking quashing of the issuance of summons against him in the defamation case.
Challenging the High Court order, Singh moved the top court seeking relief. The apex court, however, refused to grant him any relief and said, "We are not inclined to entertain the present petition."
According to the prosecution, Gujarat University Registrar Piyush Patel had filed the defamation case against Singh over his alleged comments after the Gujarat High Court set aside an order of the Chief Information Commissioner to provide information about the Prime Minister's degree under the RTI Act.
It may be recalled that on March 31, 2023, the Gujarat HC had quashed a 2016 order of the Central Information Commission which directed Gujarat University to provide information on Modi's degree.
A Gujarat metropolitan magistrate court had summoned Singh in the defamation case over his alleged sarcastic and derogatory statements in connection with Modi's degree.
Gujarat University had in its complaint termed the AAP leader's comments targeting it as defamatory. It also said that the comments hurt the prestige and popularity of the university which has established its name among the public.
