Shashi Tharoor moves Supreme Court in defamation case over PM Modi jibe

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday requested the Supreme Court to urgently take up his petition challenging a Delhi High Court verdict refusing to quash defamation proceedings against him on a complaint over his alleged “scorpion on Shivling” remarks on PM Modi.

“Just circulate the email. I will look into it just now,” a Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud, which sat till 6 pm, told Tharoor’s lawyer after the latter submitted that the petition should be heard on Tuesday or else, the Congress leader will have to appear in a Delhi court tomorrow in the case filed by Delhi BJP vice-president Rajiv Babbar.

While refusing to quash the defamation proceedings against Tharoor, the Delhi High Court on August 29 said prima facie, imputations like “scorpion on Shivling” against the Prime Minister were “despicable and deplorable”. It said prima facie, the remarks defamed the Prime Minister, the ruling BJP as well as its office-bearers and members.