Punjab and Haryana High Court issues notice in Om Prakash Chautala’s plea to quash defamation complaint

Acting on a petition filed by Haryana’s former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala seeking the quashing of a criminal complaint filed by IPS officer Param Vir Rathee against no less than 34 politicians, mediapersons and others, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion. Justice

Mahabir Singh Sindhu also fixed October 14 as the next date of hearing.

Chautala stated that he was ex-MLA, ex-chief minister and office bearer of the Indian National Lok Dal. Rathee, then posted as Additional Director-General of Police, moved a private complaint against 34 persons under Sections 499, 500, 501 of the IPC, alleging that the petitioner issued defamatory statement to the press against him.

“The respondent has implicated as many as 30 reporters/editors etc. from various newspapers as accused for publishing defamatory news against him. The respondent also implicated four politicians including the present petitioner,” his counsel added.

The bench was also told that the trial court, in violation of the provisions of the CrPC, passed the impugned summoning order. “The respondent has been withdrawing the complaints piecemeal qua various accused person,” he added.

Chautala prayed for quashing the impugned complaint and the consequential summoning order dated April 17, 2010, under Section 500 of the IPC passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class, Gurgaon.