HC seeks Kejriwal's response on filing false affidavit

New Delhi, Aug 23 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's reply on a plea filed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for alleged filing of a false affidavit by him in a defamation case.

Jaitley told Justice Manmohan that he had a letter from senior advocate Ram Jethmalani in which the lawyer alleged he was instructed by Kejriwal to use abusive words against the Finance Minister.

The court listed the matter for hearing on December 11.

Jethmalani, Kejriwal's former lawyer, had used derogatory words against Jaitley during cross-examination in the Rs 10 crore Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) defamation suit against Kejriwal and five other Aam Aadmi Party leaders that the Finance Minister filed in 2015.

Later, while Kejriwal filed an affidavit in the court saying Jethmalani was "not instructed" to use objectionable words against Jaitley, the lawyer maintained he used such words on Kejriwal's instructions.

In a fresh plea, Jaitley sought direction to allow him to file a criminal complaint against Kejriwal for making a false statement and filing a false affidavit.

Jaitley had also filed fresh Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Kejriwal over his lawyer Jethmalani using objectionable words during cross-examination of the previous defamation suit.

Jaitley, in the second civil defamation suit against Kejriwal, had said the objectionable words caused him "permanent harm and disrepute".