Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar on Monday filed an application before a Thane district court seeking quashing of the defamation suit filed against him for his alleged remarks comparing the RSS to the radical group Taliban.
The 76-year-old poet-lyricist termed the lawsuit as “troubling and frivolous” which was filed only to intimidate and exhaust him and that his alleged defamatory remarks were neither typical of the RSS or its current members.
Akhtar submitted the application through his lawyer Jai Bhardwaj and urged the court to quash the suit filed by RSS worker Vivek Champanerkar on the ground that the plaintiff (Champanerkar) did not have the right to file the petition and cause of action.
The application states that Champanerkar has not sought any damages for himself in his case, but has sought relief for the RSS.
In the present case, the goal of the plaintiff (Champanerkar) is achieved if the defendant (Akhtar) succumbs to fear, intimidation, increasing legal costs or simple exhaustion and omits the criticism. It states that it is not the plaintiff’s intention to win.
The former Rajya Sabha MP further said that a defamation suit can be filed only by a person who has allegedly been defamed.
Firstly, it is most respectfully submitted that the alleged defamatory remarks made by the respondent (Akhtar) are neither exclusive to the RSS or the existing members of the RSS,” the application said.
“The said remarks are extremely general in nature and do not pertain to any specific individual or any identifiable class of persons. In cases where a section of people has allegedly been defamed, the entire class may file a petition , it said.
The court on Monday directed Champanerkar to file a reply on Akhtar’s plea by February 10.
Champanerkar filed the suit in September 2021, days after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, seeking Re 1 as compensation. On September 27, the court had issued a notice to Akhtar seeking his response to the case.
In his suit, Champanerkar had claimed that the statements made by the famous film personality tarnished the image of the RSS in the eyes of the general public.
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Lyricist Javed Akhtar demands quashing of defamation case against him on RSS-Taliban statement
Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar on Monday filed an application before a Thane district court seeking quashing of the defamation suit filed against him for his alleged remarks comparing the RSS to the radical group Taliban.
The 76-year-old poet-lyricist termed the lawsuit as “troubling and frivolous” which was filed only to intimidate and exhaust him and that his alleged defamatory remarks were neither typical of the RSS or its current members.
Akhtar submitted the application through his lawyer Jai Bhardwaj and urged the court to quash the suit filed by RSS worker Vivek Champanerkar on the ground that the plaintiff (Champanerkar) did not have the right to file the petition and cause of action.
The application states that Champanerkar has not sought any damages for himself in his case, but has sought relief for the RSS.
In the present case, the goal of the plaintiff (Champanerkar) is achieved if the defendant (Akhtar) succumbs to fear, intimidation, increasing legal costs or simple exhaustion and omits the criticism. It states that it is not the plaintiff’s intention to win.
The former Rajya Sabha MP further said that a defamation suit can be filed only by a person who has allegedly been defamed.
Firstly, it is most respectfully submitted that the alleged defamatory remarks made by the respondent (Akhtar) are neither exclusive to the RSS or the existing members of the RSS,” the application said.
“The said remarks are extremely general in nature and do not pertain to any specific individual or any identifiable class of persons. In cases where a section of people has allegedly been defamed, the entire class may file a petition , it said.
The court on Monday directed Champanerkar to file a reply on Akhtar’s plea by February 10.
Champanerkar filed the suit in September 2021, days after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, seeking Re 1 as compensation. On September 27, the court had issued a notice to Akhtar seeking his response to the case.
In his suit, Champanerkar had claimed that the statements made by the famous film personality tarnished the image of the RSS in the eyes of the general public.
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