Delhi Politics Heats Up as Parvesh Verma Sues Saurabh Bhardwaj

A defamation case filed by Delhi government minister Parvesh Verma against AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj has been taken up by the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi, marking the beginning of formal proceedings in a politically sensitive dispute. According to the case details, the special MP-MLA court has accepted the defamation complaint after a preliminary hearing and has decided to move forward with the matter. The case was listed before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACJM) Paras Dalal, who scheduled hearings on June 9 and June 11 for recording the complainant’s pre-summoning evidence. The court will review the evidence and witness statements before deciding whether to summon the accused for further trial proceedings. The dispute originates from a series of social media posts made by Saurabh Bhardwaj in which he allegedly made serious accusations against Parvesh Verma. As per Verma’s legal counsel, the posts claimed that Verma misused his ministerial position in connection with the S.S. Mota Singh School Trust. It was alleged that he influenced the appointment of an associate as a trustee in the private school trust and that the trust possessed assets worth around ₹500 crore. These claims, according to the complaint, were damaging to Verma’s public image and reputation. The controversy is also linked to a separate matter involving a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case registered against certain employees of the same school. Reports state that the case was filed based on a complaint by parents of a student. Bhardwaj’s social media posts allegedly referenced this case while suggesting improper influence and connections involving Verma. The posts implied that political power may have been used to protect or benefit individuals associated with the trust, which Verma strongly denies. Parvesh Verma’s legal team argues that the allegations were false, politically motivated, and intended to harm his reputation. Following the social media posts, Verma reportedly sent a legal notice to Bhardwaj demanding the removal of the posts and an unconditional apology. However, it is claimed that the posts were not deleted, nor was any apology issued, which led Verma to approach the Rouse Avenue Court with a formal defamation complaint. With the court now initiating pre-summoning proceedings, the case will depend heavily on the evidence presented by the complainant. The outcome will determine whether Saurabh Bhardwaj will be formally summoned to face trial in the defamation matter. The case has drawn political attention given the involvement of prominent leaders from rival parties in Delhi’s ongoing political landscape.