New Delhi [India], March 3: BJP MLA Karnail Singh has raised concerns regarding the maintainability of a defamation case filed by former Delhi Minister Satyender Jain before the special MP-MLA Court. Jain alleged that Singh made defamatory statements about him during a news interview on January 19, 2025, accusing him of corruption, fraud, and possessing illegal wealth, including 37 kg of gold and 1,100 acres of land.
The matter is currently being heard in a special MP-MLA court, where Singh’s lawyer has questioned the court’s jurisdiction, pointing out that Singh was not an MP or MLA at the time of the alleged incident. The court has scheduled further hearings for March 26 to address the issue of maintainability.
During the hearing, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Paras Dalal considered the submissions of advocate Vinod Dahiya, representing Karnail Singh, and listed the matter for further arguments on the maintainability of the complaint. Singh’s counsel argued that as Singh was neither an MP nor MLA at the time, the special court should not be the appropriate forum for the case, as it typically deals with cases involving elected lawmakers.
ACJM Paras Dalal noted that the court had previously considered this issue and believed the case could be heard in this court but acknowledged that Singh’s legal team had the right to challenge the maintainability. Advocate Kaustubh Khanna, representing Jain, cited judgments from the Delhi and Manipur High Courts, which support Jain’s position and argue that the case can be heard in the MP/MLA Court if the complainant is a former legislator.
On February 6, the court had questioned how Jain’s complaint could be heard in a special MP-MLA court, noting that Jain, as the complainant, was not an accused in the case. Jain’s counsel referred to a judgment stating that a former MLA, as a complainant, could file a defamation case in this court. Singh’s lawyer countered that the court should only hear cases against sitting MPs and MLAs, not former ones.
The defamation case stems from allegations by Singh that Jain amassed wealth through corruption, including claims of large sums of gold being found at Jain’s residence. Singh also called Jain a “Bhoo Mafia” and warned that he would go to jail again, which Singh claims were malicious and defamatory statements.
The court has also issued a notice to the news channel involved in the interview and has set the next date for hearing on March 26.