'Glass Houses' Clash: Saurabh Bharadwaj Slams Parvesh Verma Over Defamation Suit
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj hits back at BJP's Parvesh Verma, citing "glass houses" after a legal battle over a private school controversy.
The political temperature in Delhi has spiked once again as AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj launched a scathing attack on BJP leader Parvesh Verma. The confrontation stems from a defamation case filed by Verma, prompting Bharadwaj to remind the BJP that those living in "glass houses" should not throw stones at others.
The Root of the Conflict: The School Controversy
The legal battle traces back to May 2026, when Saurabh Bharadwaj took to social media platforms—including X, Instagram, and Facebook—to post about an incident at the SS Mota Singh Public School in West Delhi. The incident was linked to a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
In his posts, Bharadwaj brought Parvesh Verma's name into the discussion, leading Verma to claim that his and his family's reputation had been severely damaged. Verma has vehemently denied any connection to the school or the trust managing it, asserting that he had no role in appointing any trust members and denying claims that he had caused trust files to disappear.
Legal Tug-of-War in Court
The matter first reached the Rouse Avenue court, where Parvesh Verma filed a criminal defamation complaint. However, on October 10, the court dismissed the complaint, refusing to take cognisance of the case. The magistrate observed that the statements made by Bharadwaj were essentially "asking questions" and did not constitute defamation.
Under legal procedure, when a magistrate refuses cognisance, the complaint ends at the threshold, meaning no summons are issued and no trial begins. Not accepting this outcome, Verma filed a revision petition challenging the dismissal. The Rouse Avenue Sessions Court has since issued a notice and scheduled the matter for a response on November 28.
Bharadwaj’s Counter-Attack: 'Stop Attacking Others'
Reacting to the ongoing legal pursuit, Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the BJP of hypocrisy. He pointed toward the BJP's own history of aggressive campaigning against AAP leaders, specifically mentioning the excise case involving Arvind Kejriwal.
"When Arvind Kejriwal was Chief Minister, posters were put up over a fake excise case that the court did not even consider fit for a chargesheet," Bharadwaj stated.
He further highlighted the derogatory remarks made by Rekha Gupta regarding Kejriwal's mother and questioned why the BJP rushes to the High Court when AAP posts criticism about their leaders, while the BJP's own objectionable videos and posters against Kejriwal and Atishi are ignored.
A Warning to the BJP
Bharadwaj concluded his remarks with a stern warning to Rekha Gupta and the BJP leadership, insisting that if they cannot handle criticism, they should cease their attacks on others. He maintained that the BJP's attempt to use the courts to silence AAP is a reflection of their inability to accept public scrutiny.