Kejriwal’s remarks motivated, to remain in public eye: HC told

New Delhi, Aug 30 (PTI) The DDCA today alleged in DelhiHigh Court that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was in the"habit" of making "false and defamatory remarks" for motivatedreasons to gain political mileage. The submission was made before Joint Registrar A KSisodia, who was hearing a civil defamation suit filed by theDelhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) against Kejriwal andsuspended BJP MP Kirti Azad for their alleged remarks againstthe cricketing body about its functioning and finances. "It is needless to mention that defendant no. 1(Kejriwal) is in the habit of making such statements beforethe media for political gain by accusing others being corruptand on the contrary calling himself crusader in fight againstcorruption. "Defendant no. 1 is indulging in making such false anddefamatory remarks for self-serving and motivated reasons,perhaps to remain in public eye to gain political mileage,"DDCA said in its reply filed through advocate Sangram Patnaik. It said Kejriwal in his statement has not denied that hehas not made a defamatory statement against DDCA and alsoadmitted that the statements made by him are true and correct. On other hand, Kejriwal, in his written statement beforethe court, had sought dismissal of DDCA’s plaint denying any"false, scandalous, defamatory… disgraceful and outrageousstatement made by him" which could have caused "irreparableloss and injury to its image and reputation in the eye of thepublic at large". Azad too, while defending his alleged remarks againstDDCA, had said no allegations were attributed to him in thecivil defamation suit. The BJP MP had stated that in the plaint filed by DDCA,there was reference to 14 newspaper articles but there were nospecific allegations against him. PTI PPS ABAARC