Gujarat High Court Dismisses AAP Leaders' Petitions in Defamation Case
The Gujarat High Court has dismissed separate petitions filed by Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leader Sanjay Singh. The petitions sought relief in a criminal defamation case initiated by Gujarat University. The case stems from remarks made by the leaders during press conferences in April 2023 about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic degree.
Court Proceedings and Judgment
Justice MR Mengdey heard arguments in the case and reserved judgment on December 22, 2025. On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Justice Mengdey pronounced the orders orally in court. The judge stated clearly, "The application is dismissed." This decision came after the additional principal judge of the city sessions court in Ahmedabad had earlier dismissed revision applications from Kejriwal and Singh.
In December 2025, Kejriwal and Singh moved a Special Criminal Application. They sought to quash a magistrate court order from September 23, 2023. That order had denied their request for separate trials in the defamation case.
Arguments and Legal Contentions
Kejriwal argued for a separate trial, claiming the accusations against him and Singh differed. He noted the incidents occurred on different dates and in varied settings. Singh contended that no criminal conspiracy or common intention could be established in the case against them.
The petitions emphasized that both leaders maintain separate social media accounts on X, formerly Twitter. They argued evidence in the case could not apply commonly to both in a joint trial.
Sessions Court Observations
The sessions court dismissed the petitions earlier, highlighting key points. Kejriwal held a press conference on April 1, 2023, and Singh on April 2, 2023. The court found they used defamatory language and uploaded content that tarnished Gujarat University's image.
The court noted a continuity of action between the two events. This qualified the case for a joint trial under Section 223(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This section allows joint trials if offences occur in the same transaction.
Background of the Case
Gujarat University filed a plaint in the Metropolitan Court in Ahmedabad in April 2023. The university stated remarks by Kejriwal and Singh about PM Modi's degree and the university were defamatory. These remarks followed a Gujarat High Court order that quashed a 2016 Central Information Commission directive. The CIC had ordered the university to provide details of PM Modi's degree under the Right to Information Act.
The magistrate court issued summons to Kejriwal and Singh. In February 2024, the Gujarat High Court dismissed their pleas challenging the sessions court's order that upheld these summons.
Legal Representation and Next Steps
During the High Court hearing in December 2025, Advocate Vishal Dave represented Kejriwal and Singh. Advocates Nirupam Nanavati and Amit Nair appeared for Gujarat University's registrar and the complainant. The Gujarat High Court's detailed written order on Tuesday's dismissal is still awaited.
This case continues to draw significant attention, reflecting ongoing legal and political tensions in India.
