The Delhi High Court on Thursday rejected Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's request to quash a defamation case linked to his "scorpion on a shivling" comment about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The remark, made in November 2018, had drawn criticism for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

Tharoor's legal team argued in court that the statement was a quote from an RSS leader, describing it as an "extraordinarily striking metaphor." Despite this clarification, BJP leader Rajeev Babbar filed a defamation case in Delhi’s Patiala House Court, accusing Tharoor of offending Hindu devotees, particularly followers of Lord Shiva.

Babbar’s complaint emphasized his devotion to Lord Shiva, asserting that Tharoor’s comment had disregarded the sentiments of millions of Shiva devotees both in India and abroad.

The court upheld the summons issued by the trial court in 2019 and refused to dismiss the defamation case. Justice Anoop Mendiratta, in delivering the verdict, stated, "No grounds are made out for quashing the proceedings," and emphasized that continuing the case was necessary for justice.

The High Court also lifted its interim stay on the case, which had been in place since 2020, and directed both parties to appear before the trial court on September 10. Tharoor, who was granted bail in June 2019, must now continue to face legal proceedings in the defamation suit.