<span style="color: #222222;">A Delhi court on Friday took cognisance of a criminal defamation complaint filed against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for his alleged "scorpion" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal fixed December 22 for recording the statement of the complainant, Delhi BJP leader Rajeev Babbar. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The complaint alleged that Mr Tharoor, with mala fide intention, made the statement which is not only abuse of the Hindu deity but also defamatory. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The complaint has been filed under sections 499 and 500 of IPC relating to defamation. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">If convicted, Mr Tharoor may face a maximum punishment of two years in jail.</span><br />''