Defamation complaint filed against Shashi Tharoor

A Delhi BJP leader on Saturday filed a defamation complaint against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for his 'scorpion' remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bengaluru Literature festival on October 28.

Complainant Rajiv Babbar said he was “severely hurt and shocked” by the statement of the accused. “He was anguished as the statement is not only baseless or unfounded but also misleading and defamatory,” his plea stated. He sought action against Tharoor under Section 499 and 500 of the IPC, which enjoined the maximum prison term of two years or fine or both. He also sought a compensation or cost of Rs five crore from the accused.

He claimed the statement by Tharoor was made with ulterior motives to degrade the reputation of Modi, BJP and its leaders and workers or supporters like him, to malign the image of the Prime Minister and to gain cheap political mileage in the elections.

“The complainant's religious sentiments were hurt and the accused deliberately did this malicious act, intending to outrage religious feelings of Lord Shiva devotees by insulting their religious beliefs. This is an intolerable abuse and an absolute vilification of the faith of millions and millions of people,” his complaint stated.

Babbar said he has locus standi to make the complaint as he is “directly and or indirectly aggrieved by the defamatory imputations made by the accused malafidely with the intention to malign the reputation of Narender Modi and his workers/ supporters and members of BJP”.

His complaint was listed for consideration by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal on Nov. 16.

A copy of the defamation complaint is attached below: