Tue Jan 28 17:17:40 IST 2025: ## Delhi Court Dismisses Defamation Case Against AAP Leader Atishi
**New Delhi:** A Delhi court has dismissed a defamation complaint filed against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi by a BJP leader, Praveen Shankar Kapoor. The Rouse Avenue court ruled that Atishi’s comments, alleging that BJP members attempted to coerce her into joining the party or face arrest, were directed at the BJP as a whole and not individual members. The court emphasized the high threshold for proving defamation in political contexts, given freedom of speech considerations.
The complaint stemmed from Atishi’s April 2023 statement, made while she was a minister, claiming she and other AAP leaders were threatened with Enforcement Directorate action unless they joined the BJP. Kapoor argued that Atishi failed to provide evidence supporting her claims.
The court’s decision overturns an earlier order that had summoned Atishi and granted her bail. The timing of the original complaint, just a month before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and the context of several senior AAP leaders facing corruption charges, added significance to the case. The ruling provides relief to the AAP ahead of the upcoming Delhi elections, where Atishi is seeking re-election.
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