Parvesh Sahib Singh Files Defamation Suits Against AAP Leader Saurabh Bharadwaj
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh has filed criminal and civil defamation suits in Delhi against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, seeking Rs 5 crore in damages. The legal action stems from social media posts that allegedly accused the minister of misusing his official position to shield individuals accused in a child sexual abuse case.
On May 20, 2026, Singh filed a criminal defamation complaint before a Delhi magistrate court. The complaint accuses Bharadwaj of publishing false, malicious, and highly defamatory tweets on May 15 and May 16, 2026.
In those social media posts, Bharadwaj allegedly claimed that Singh misused his authority as a minister to appoint a purported associate as a trustee in a private school trust worth nearly Rs 500 crore. Furthermore, the tweets alleged that Singh exercised his influence to benefit school employees who are currently accused in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case.
Following the filing, the magistrate court on May 22, 2026, set the matter for the examination of Singh and his witnesses, scheduling the proceedings for June 9 and June 11, 2026. Through this action, Singh is seeking to have Bharadwaj prosecuted for criminal defamation under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Alongside the criminal case, Singh filed a civil defamation suit in the Delhi High Court. In this suit, Singh claims that Bharadwaj published the tweets knowing they would harm his reputation in the eyes of the public, his peers, the media, and society. He argued that the AAP leader sought to fabricate a connection between him and the school trust for political benefit and cheap publicity.
On May 25, 2026, the civil suit was listed before Delhi High Court Judicial-side Joint Registrar Gagandeep Jindal, who subsequently issued summons to the AAP leader.
Bharadwaj, who is the AAP Delhi unit chief and a former minister, is also facing separate criminal contempt proceedings before the Delhi High Court related to an excise policy case.
