Defamation case: Delhi HC objects to 'suggestive questions' by Arvind Kejriwal's lawyer

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the counsel of Arvind Kejriwal to restructure the questions being asked in the cross-examination of Union Minister Arun Jaitley to expedite the proceedings of a defamation case filed by the former against him and five other AAP leaders.

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw objected to asking "suggestive questions" and stated that "the object appeared only to cross-examine rather than arriving at a result".

The court asked the counsel for the Delhi CM to "re-look" into the questions and formulate them properly so that the proceedings can continue uninterrupted. It also asked the lawyers to ensure that the cross-examination is complete by the next date of hearing,i.e February 20.

The single-judge bench told senior advocate Anoop George Chaudhari, counsel for Kejriwal, that "excessive cross-examination was harmful" as it "never helps the cross-examiner", thereby asking them not to engage in any "fishing or roving exercise".

"It never helps the cross-examiner. I feel the object is to cross-examine rather than arrive at the result," the court remarked.

The court also raised questions on the manner of cross-examination and stated that putting suggestive questions to the witness was "unknown to civil law" and more common to criminal law. "What do you gain by suggestions," the court asked objecting to such "suggestive questions".

The court did not allow several questions to be taken on record and the minister answered only 4-5 questions during the proceedings on Monday.

Jaitley was being cross-examined by Kejriwal's counsel in his Rs 10 crore defamation suit filed in wake of allegations of financial irregularities against him in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) of which he was the president from 1999 to 2013.