Delhi Court Sets Aside Summons Against BJP MLA Karnail Singh in Defamation Case by Satyendar Jain

May 2, 2026 : A Delhi court has set aside a magistrate’s order taking cognizance and summoning BJP MLA Karnail Singh in a criminal defamation complaint filed by AAP leader Satyendar Jain.

Special Judge Jitendra Singh at the Rouse Avenue Courts allowed Singh’s revision petition and remanded the matter back to the trial court for fresh consideration. The Court clarified that it had not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.

The judge held that the trial court erred in observing that statutory exceptions to defamation can only be examined during trial. Instead, even at the stage of summoning, courts must conduct a limited scrutiny of the statements, material on record, and the exceptions claimed to determine whether sufficient grounds exist to proceed.

The case stems from allegations by Jain that during the 2025 Delhi Assembly election campaign from Shakur Basti, Singh made defamatory claims that an Enforcement Directorate raid in 2022 had led to the recovery of large quantities of gold and extensive property linked to Jain, along with accusations of corruption. Singh defended his statements as being based on information already available in the public domain.

The Court emphasized that where statements relate to the conduct of a public servant or matters of public interest, courts must exercise caution before issuing process. It added that if, on a prima facie review, the statements fall within statutory exceptions under defamation law, proceedings should not be initiated.

The trial court has now been directed to reconsider the matter in light of these observations and pass a fresh order in accordance with law.