M A I N   N E W S

No camera seizure, no videography, says Park Plaza
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7
The management of Park Plaza Hotel, Ludhiana, today denied that its employees had confessed filming a newlywed couple with a camera. The management also denied that the camera, allegedly used by the accused, had been confiscated by the police.

The Tribune, in a news-item published on March 5, had reported that the accused had confessed committing the crime after being arrested by the Ludhiana police.

The report had added that the accused had earlier attacked the groom, staying in the hotel, with sharp-edged weapons after he had exposed the alleged racket.

Denying the allegations, the Managing Director of Majestic Hotels Limited, Mr Jasbir Singh Khangura, claimed that the newspaper, by not qualifying the word “racket” used in the headline, had made a “definitive defamatory statement”. Moreover, the newspaper, in an editorial, had indicted the establishment even though police inquiry was continuing.

In a communication to The Tribune, Mr Khangura wanted the newspaper to contact the SSP, Ludhiana, to determine whether there had been any confession of “camero-graphy”, whether any camera or weapon had been recovered or whether the police was in possession of any video-recording that definitely related to this hotel .

The Managing Director also termed as allegation the assertion that injuries were sustained by the bridegroom, Mr Harpreet Singh, while grappling with the voyeurs. The allegation has been reported as if it was a fact, he added.

Referring to another news report stating that the newspaper had procured an MMS clip showing an unidentified girl in different poses in a hotel room, Mr Khangura added, “We trust that you (the newspaper) are in possession of this clip and it relates to this hotel beyond reasonable doubt.” He also alleged that an attempt had apparently been made to influence the investigations, create public opinion against the hotel, and to malign its management. This, he added, had resulted in a substantial loss of business and repute with long-term consequences.

The MD further claimed that immense commercial damage had been caused to the establishment due to “impartial, malicious and poorly researched reporting”.