The Supreme Court of India dismissed former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging the criminal defamation case filed against him by the Registrar of Gujarat University on Monday. The case was filed in response to alleged defamatory comments made by Kejriwal concerning the educational qualifications of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In March 2023, the Gujarat High Court set aside an order by the Central Information Commission that called for the release of information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s college degrees. Kejriwal, who had requested this information under the Right to Information Act, held a press conference with fellow Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Sanjay Singh, during which they allegedly made “sarcastic” remarks about Modi’s degrees. Kejriwal also took to X (formerly Twitter), insinuating that Modi’s degree was fake.

The remarks resulted in a criminal defamation case being filed against Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh by Gujarat University, Modi’s alma mater, under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. A Magistrate Court issued summons for Kejriwal, which he challenged in court. However, the Gujarat High Court dismissed his challenge.

Kejriwal then approached the Supreme Court, which noted that it had previously dismissed a similar plea filed by Sanjay Singh on the same matter and must maintain consistency. The Court did not rule on the merits of the case, stating that such judgment is reserved for the actual trial, which has yet to occur. It advised both parties to refrain from making substantive arguments in the current plea.

Kejriwal resigned from the post of chief minister in September and faces several pending cases, including charges of money laundering and defamation against India’s ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party.