Legal notice demanding apology sent to Agni Sridhar, who says he will battle out the issue in court.
A legal notice has been sent to the former don-turned-journalist, Agni Sridhar, demanding an unconditional apology within two weeks for “defaming” meditation guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living (AOL) Foundation.
The notice was sent over a “defamatory” article in Sridhar’s publication, Agni. The notice termed the content of the article as “highly defamatory, fabricated, mischievous and scandalous against my client without any basis.”
The notice, sent by a city-based legal firm, Doreraj and Associates, said Sridhar had caused damages estimated at Rs50 crore by causing loss of image, reputation, honour and diginity of Sri Sri.
Besides Sridhar, the notice was also sent to the editor of Agni, Rajeshekara Hathugundi, and printer, MS Ravindra.
The notice demanded Sridhar to prominently publish the apology in Agni for two days.
Sridhar, who was yet to receive the notice, categorically said that he would not apologise. He said he still believed the cause he has been fighting for.
“I have faced many such defamation cases during my career. I will consider this to be one among them. If they go to the court, I will present the case myself before the court,” he said.
Sridhar was planning to organise Dalits and farmers who were “cheated by AOL” to intensify a stir against the foundation.
Repeated attempts to contact AOL spokespersons over the phone were unattended and unreturned.
Sridhar and AOL have been at loggerheads over a piece of land adjacent to the foundation’s complex in Kanakapura, about 20 km from the city centre.
The notice also demanded Shridhar to produce any direct, indirect, material evidence, documents and video clippings. AOL had last week accused Sridhar of trying to malign Sri Sri and the
foundation using a sleaze video.
“The allegations made by Agni Sridhar through his publication, and through the media, have the ingredients to establish offence punishable under Sections 499, 500, 501 and 502 of the Indian Penal Code,” advocate M Doreraj said.
The notice pointed out that Sridhar defamed Sri Sri by terming him as a “beggar begging for dollars and euros.” It also said the former don had passed unsavoury remarks on Banumati, the meditation guru’s sister.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}