Defamation Case Ordered Against Ex-CM Chouhan, VD Sharma For False OBC Quota Claims

Congress Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha gave his preliminary statement to the court in the criminal defamation case on April 29 last year.

Madhya Pradesh Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Source : PTI

A special court has ordered the filing of a criminal defamation case against Madhya Pradesh BJP president VD Sharma, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and ex-minister Bhupendra Singh in response to a plea filed by Congress Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha, news agency PTI reported. Judicial Magistrate First Class Vishveshwari Mishra, who deals with issues involving MPs and MLAs, authorised the filing of a defamation complaint on Saturday after prima facie determining that there was adequate evidence for trial, petitioner's advocate HS Chhabra said.

Tankha gave his preliminary statement to the court in the criminal defamation case on April 29 last year.

Tankha, a renowned Supreme Court lawyer, said that BJP leaders harmed his reputation by falsely saying that he was involved in a Supreme Court case over the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota in the panchayat elections in 2021.

In his statement, the former MP advocate general claimed that he had neither engaged in any judicial proceedings involving the OBC reservation, nor had he submitted any petition on the subject.

Tankha has also filed a Rs 10-crore civil defamation claim against Sharma, Chouhan, and Singh.

PM Modi Interested In Development Of Kerala: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Earlier this week, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan remarked that the Prime Minister prioritises Kerala's development, ANI reported.

"PM Modi has prioritised development in Kerala, be it highways, ports, or metro. In the last few years, the central government has provided Rs 1,15,000 crores for various developmental works. PM Modi is highly respected and regarded which is why his visit to Kerala will greatly benefit the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections... In Kerala as well, we want to strengthen all booths. And if win every booth, we will win the elections. By contacting beneficiaries of central government schemes, and taking them along on this journey, we will strengthen our booths. PM Modi has said that there are only four castes in our country- poor, youth, farmers, and women, and BJP is working for the welfare of all four," he stated. 

#WATCH | Kerala: On PM Narendra Modi's visit to Kerala, former CM of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan says, "...PM Modi has prioritised development in Kerala, be it highways, ports, or metro. In the last few years, the central government has provided Rs 1,15,000 crores for… pic.twitter.com/bGa3aYRXQ6

— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2024

Chouhan shared his observations during a media interview with ANI.