Delhi court exempts Bajrang Punia from personal appearance for a day in criminal defamation case

New Delhi (IANS). A Delhi court on Wednesday exempted wrestler Bajrang Punia from personal appearance for a day in the criminal defamation complaint filed against him by sports coach Naresh Dahiya.

Dahiya has alleged that at a press conference held at Jantar Mantar on May 10 during a protest by women wrestlers against alleged sexual harassment by BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Punia had assaulted other wrestlers. /persons and had made derogatory remarks against him.

Punia’s lawyer sought relief on medical grounds, which was granted by Patiala House Court Metropolitan Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal.

Punia’s lawyer claimed that his client would not be able to appear in court that day as he was suffering from fever.

After this the court adjourned the case till September 14.

Chahal, who had summoned Punia on Wednesday in this matter on August 3, had said that his prima facie view was that all the elements of defamation were present.

During the hearing, he had said that at the summons stage it was largely settled that the court need not go into a comparative analysis of the possible defenses that could be made by the accused.

The magistrate had said, “On consideration of the complaint, supporting documents and pre-summons evidence, I am prima facie of the view that all the ingredients of defamation are made out.”

He had said that the statement made in the press conference appeared to be a result of malicious intent and was not made with good intentions.

The magistrate had said, “In view of the same, accused Bajrang Punia be summoned for the offense punishable under section 499 read with section 500 (both relating to criminal defamation) of IPC.”