But afterwards when the police came to know that the complaint of Dr Sharma was false, the protection was withdrawn. The case of Dr Sharma was transferred to the CBI.

"Without verifying the facts from the CBI or knowingly, the four political leaders issued statements against me, saying that I was a corrupt officer," the ADGP said, adding that they even went to the extent of demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on this issue.

These statements were published in various newspapers from June 19 to 24, 2008. Those newspapers have also been made party in the defamation case.

Rathi pointed out that Dr Sandeep Sharma was arrested by the CBI on August 21, 2008, and hence, he could not have made any statement before the CBI in June, 2008, as reported by the newspaper.

Rathi asserted that he was in no way related to the case of Dr Sharma and had nothing to do with the matter.

"I was not even aware of the case and was taken aback on seeing my name being dragged into the matter," the ADGP said, adding that the even investigating officer of the CBI, Raminder Kumar, had deposed before the court that even after his arrest, Dr Sandeep Sharma had not levelled any allegation against him (Rathi). Rathi filed a suit of criminal defamation in November, 2008.