Supreme Court Urged to Hear Shashi Tharoor's Plea on Defamation Case

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor seeks urgent Supreme Court hearing against a Delhi High Court verdict that refused to quash defamation proceedings over his 'scorpion on Shivling' remarks about PM Narendra Modi. The HC vacated an earlier stay on criminal proceedings, directing parties to appear before the trial court.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday sought an urgent hearing in the Supreme Court on his appeal against a Delhi High Court decision that refused to quash defamation proceedings against him. The case stemmed from a complaint over his alleged 'scorpion on Shivling' remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was approached to schedule the plea hearing for Tuesday. The Congress leader will otherwise need to appear in a Delhi court in connection with the private defamation complaint.

The Delhi High Court had dismissed Tharoor's plea to quash the defamation proceedings on August 29, declaring the remarks to be 'despicable and deplorable' and defaming not just the prime minister but the BJP and its members. Consequently, the HC vacated the interim order staying criminal proceedings and directed parties to appear before the trial court on September 10.