Acquittal in the 14-Year-Old Defamation Case
A court in Bihar's Vaishali district has acquitted senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh in a defamation case that dates back to 2012. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Abhimanyu Kumar delivered the verdict after the final hearing, with Singh present via video conferencing.
The complaint was originally filed by then BJP leader Ajit Kumar Singh of Hajipur under Section 504 of the Indian Penal Code. He alleged that Digvijaya Singh, at the time the AICC general secretary, had made objectionable remarks against yoga guru Baba Ramdev. The statements were reportedly made in the aftermath of Delhi Police's midnight eviction of Ramdev from his hunger strike site at Ramlila Maidan.
With the acquittal, the case — which saw Digvijaya Singh appear personally before the Hajipur Civil Court around 12 years ago while serving as an MP — comes to a close after over a decade.
Political Backdrop of the Remarks
The acquittal draws a line under a long-standing legal dispute that was intertwined with the political climate of 2012. That year, Baba Ramdev's anti-corruption agitation had gained national attention, and his abrupt removal by Delhi Police became a flashpoint. Digvijaya Singh's remarks, perceived by the complainant as defamatory, reflected the sharp political polarisation of the period.
The case also underscores the enduring nature of such legal proceedings in India, often moving slowly through the courts. With the judgment, a minor but persistent irritant between the two political camps is removed, though it is unlikely to have any significant impact on current political dynamics.
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