[BREAKING] Delhi High Court restrains AAP leaders from making allegations of financial corruption against Delhi LG

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday passed an interim order restraining Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its leaders from making allegations of corruption against Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. .Justice Amit Bansal also directed the taking down of certain allegedly defamatory tweets posted by AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj..Senior Advocates Mahesh Jethmalani and Maninder Singh appeared for Saxena to argue that the allegations made by AAP and its leaders are patently false and defamatory.They said that the defendants have not been able to show anything to substantiate their allegations, and that the documents used by them to prove the allegations were non-existent and forged."Their tweets and press conferences have been widely reported. Functionaries of the party say all this day in and day out. They say Vinai Kumar Saxena ne Rs 1400 crore ka ghotala kiya (Saxena was involved in a scam of ₹1,400 crore). They may not take any names but we know they are referring to VK Saxena," Singh stated.The counsel argued that these allegations are being made against a high constitutional functionary who cannot come out in public and defend himself..The suit demanded that an injunction order be passed against these leaders and that they be directed to take down all tweets, posts or videos in reference to the allegations against the LG..However, Senior Advocates Sandeep Sethi and Rajiv Nayar, appearing for the AAP leaders, argued that Court should not pass an interim injunction order at this stage. Whether or not there is truth to the allegations will be decided at the stage of trial."We plead truth and justification. There cannot be any question for injunction. The allegation is during this person's (Saxena) tenure at KVIC, two people were arrested. They can say that this is hearsay, but the fact is two people have gone on record to say that this happened..." Sethi argued.He added that the principles laid down by the courts is that public functionaries must be open to criticism and that they have to be thick-skinned."As a political party, it is my duty to bring all these issues to public notice. The LG is not above law. I am not seeking investigation against him for something he did while being LG, but for his conduct during his tenure at KVIC," said another counsel appearing for AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj..Saxena filed the defamation suit against the AAP leaders for levelling ‘derogatory’ and ‘malicious’ charges against him.The AAP legislators had alleged in the Delhi Assembly on August 29 that Saxena had pressured his employees to exchange demonetised currency.They also alleged financial irregularities to the tune of ₹1,400 when Saxena was heading the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The AAP leaders also alleged that Saxena misused his position and awarded a contract for the interior design of Khadi lounge in Mumbai to his daughter.The party demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the matter and called for Saxena’s arrest.The LG had sent a legal notice to AAP leaders earlier this month asking them to issue a press statement directing all party members and people associated with the party to cease and desist from spreading defamatory and unsubstantiated statements. He had demanded that they comply with the notice within 48 hours.However, the AAP leaders had refused to do so, resulting in the defamation suit.