Akshardham attack: DG Vanzara denies that defamation suit against Mufti Mansuri is at Hindu group's behest

Former IPS officer D G Vanzara on Tuesday denied the allegation that he filed the Rs 101-crore defamation suit against Mufti Abdul Qayum Mansuri, a Muslim cleric acquitted in the Akshardham temple attack case, at the behest of Hindu right wing groups.

"The statement (by Mansuri) that the defamation suit was filed in nexus with Hindu extremists and old political friends of the applicant (Vanzara) to frame the respondent was not true," Vanzara said in his affidavit filed in the sessions court here on August 12. 

Mansuri has written a book titled 'Gyarah Saal Salaakhon Ke Peechhe' (Eleven years behind the bars) on his experiences as an under-trial in the Akshardham terror attack case. Vanzara sued him last month, seeking damages of Rs 101 crore claiming that Mansuri's book contains derogatory and defamatory content about him. Mansuri said in his reply that the book was based on the the Supreme Court verdict which absolved him and Vanzara's suit was filed at the behest of Hindu groups and some politicians.

Vanzara said in the rejoinder that he had read the apex court's verdict and Mansuri's allegation that Vanzara had not read the records of the apex court further defames him. The case will come up before Additional Sessions Judge J V Pandya in further course of hearing.