Delhi HC frowns over‘scandalous word’against Jaitley

The Delhi High Court on Thursday said the use of a "scandalous" word – crook – by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's lawyer Ram Jethmalani against Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during the latter's cross-examination in a defamation case cannot be allowed.

"If such allegations have been made on instructions of defendant 1 (Kejriwal), then no point in continuing with cross-examination of plaintiff (Jaitley) any more. Let defendant 1 make good his allegations. Let him step into the box," said Justice Manmohan.

The court observation came after Jaitley's lawyer apprised it that Jethmalani had used the word "crook" against the Finance Minister during his cross-examination on Wednesday before a Joint Registrar.

On Wednesday, Jaitley and Jethmalani clashed in the court, with the Minister taking a strong objection to the use of word "crookery" by the senior lawyer.

A furious Jaitley, who was being cross-examined in the defamation case he had filed against Kejriwal, had asked Jethmalani whether the word used by him was in his personal capacity or as per the instruction of Kejriwal.

"I will aggravate the charges against the defendants (Kejriwal)... there is a limit to personal malice," Jaitley said on Wednesday after Jethmalani said it has been used by him on instruction from Kejriwal.

Jaitley's lawyers raised the issue before Justice Manmohan, arguing that they want a clarification from Kejriwal as to whether the word used by Jethmalani was on the Chief Minister's instruction or in lawyer's personal capacity.