A Delhi court on Thursday took cognisance of the defamation complaint filed by Zee News editor Sudhir Chaudhary against Congress MP Naveen Jindal and 16 officials of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL).
“The cognisance of offence under section 499 (defamation) read with 34 (common intention) of the IPC is taken... Keeping in view the law laid down in the provisions of CrPC and the judgment of the Delhi High Court, the examination of complainant and his witnesses is being proceeded with. Put up for examination of complainant and his witnesses on oath for January 7,” metropolitan magistrate Jay Thareja said.
Meanwhile, Zee Business editor Samir Ahluwalia filed a defamation complaint against Jindal on Thursday, but in a different court, which will decide on January 9 whether to take cognisance of his plea.
Chaudhary, who was granted exemption from personal appearance in court for Thursday, has alleged in his complaint that Jindal and JSPL officials had deliberately made false statements against him with an intention to tarnish his image.
He has said in his complaint that defamatory statements were made in an FIR lodged against him in the alleged case.
Chaudhary and Ahluwalia were arrested on November 27, 2012 on a complaint filed by Jindal’s firm that they had demanded money as an advertising deal for not airing negative news reports about the firm in connection with the coal block allocation scandal. Both of them were granted bail later.
