31 May,2021 06:48 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
A local court on Monday issued a notice to two lawyers in connection with a criminal defamation complaint filed against them by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for allegedly circulating a press note containing false statements.
The BJP leader had filed the complaint before a metropolitan magistrate earlier this month claiming the press note issued by the two lawyers Satish Uke and Sameer Sheikh - contained statements against him that were false and maligned his character.
Fadnavis had recorded his statement before the magistrate on May 18.
On Monday, Magistrate N N Joshi issued a notice to the two lawyers and directed them to appear before the court on July 16.
ALSO READ
Maharashtra polls: Cluster development to redevelop dilapidated buildings
Maharashtra elections 2024: Mira Bhayandar water supply to double in six months
Maharashtra assembly elections 2024: Traffic advisory for some parts of Mumbai
Maharashtra assembly elections 2024: War over pre-poll guarantees intensifies
Maharashtra Election 2024: Mira Bhayandar will see three-way fight this time
The press note, circulated in March this year by the two lawyers after a media conference in Mumbai, had sought to link Fadnavis to the killing of an architect, Eknath Nimgadi, in Nagpur on September 6, 2016, over a plot of land.
Also read: Why lie on SC order on national task force: Devendra Fadnavis to Shiv Sena
The Leader of Opposition in the assembly, in his complaint, stated that the note contained "false statements and imputations which harmed and lowered my reputation".
The complaint said the note was circulated on social media platforms and many innocent people would tend to get misguided and misled by such blatantly false allegations.
The accused persons (lawyers) have brazenly committed an offence under section 499 (defamation) of the IPC by attempting to harm and by harming the character and reputation of the complainant by making such blatantly false imputations, it said.
Fadnavis has sought the court to initiate action against the lawyers for defamation.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
