Court summons Kirti Azad and Bishan Singh Bedi in defamation complaint

A Delhi court has summoned as accused suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad, Bishan Singh Bedi and two others in a criminal defamation complaint filed by an under-19 cricketer’s father, Tejbir Singh for allegedly making false statements with “mala fide intention” regarding the selection of his son in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Complainant Tejbir Singh had earlier appeared and told the court that Azad, former cricketers Bedi and Surender Khanna and Sameer Bahadur held a media briefing where they alleged that Rs 25 lakh was paid for the young cricketer’s selection.

“The said allegation has brought disrepute to the name of Himmat Singh who is performing well and has made it into the playing squad on his own merit,” the counsel had said.

They have been directed to appear in court on September 9 by Metropolitan Magistrate Harvinder Singh.

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He had said that whatever may be the intention behind the statement, whether due to politics or to highlight corruption in Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA), the cricketers name has been allegedly defamed.

“All accused have been a member of Cricket Improvement Committee at one point of time and in furtherance of the conspiracy and in connivance, have committed several offences besides offence of defamation as defined and made punishable under section 499 and 500 of IPC,” the plea said.

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“Such explicit false imputations and mala fide statements have been made with specific intention to defame complainant and his son and with intent to lowering their reputation and esteem in the eyes of the public at large,” it said.