Delhi court says Kejriwal’s ‘thulla’ remark derogatory

NEW DELHI: Days after a Delhi Police constable filed a criminal defamation case against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal over his ‘thulla’ remark, a city court on Friday said that the statement appears to be “derogatory” and “disrespectful” to the entire Delhi Police.
The constable, Harvinder, who is posted at the Govindpuri police station, had filed the case on July 18 at the same police station.In his complaint, he said that after watching Kejriwal’s interview on television, he felt humiliated.
Senior police officers said he had told them that he felt insulted in front of his family, relatives and friends.
“The statement on the face of it appears to be derogatory and disrespectful to the entire institution of Delhi Police,” said metropolitan magistrate Anu Agrawal in her order. However, the court also said that the statement was not personal, but a general one against all police officials. The next hearing is on July 31 where the constable will have to clarify if the alleged insult intended to provoke breach of peace.
“The statement is not person-specific and is not made against the complainant in particular. It is asked to satisfy the court whether this statement per se constitutes prima facie offences of defamation under provision of IPC section 499 (defamation) and or is covered under IPC Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) or under any other law,” said the order.
The advocate, who appeared for Harvinder, argued that the ‘thulla’ remark by Kejriwal was demoralizing for the entire Delhi Police.
After Kejriwal’s remark, three cops, including a retired officer, filed criminal defamation cases against him. Delhi Police commissioner B S Bassi also expressed his displeasure over it.