GU V-C slaps defamation suit on Modhwadia

Gujarat University’s newly-appointed vice-chancellor, Prof Aadesh Pal, has filed a defamation suit against president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Arjun Modhwadia.

The case was filed on September 29 after which the court ordered, the same day, a court inquiry under Section 202 of the CrPC. Metropolitan magistrate PT Patel has also asked the GU vice-chancellor to remain present in court on October 31 for verification of the complaint.

Prof Aadesh Pal, who was appointed GU vice-chancellor on August 31 this year, has sought penal action against Modhwadia for the content of his open letter to chief minister Narendra Modi published in a local daily on September 10.

In his petition, Pal has said that in the open letter, Modhwadia had described him as "characterless and drunkard". “He had made baseless and derogatory remarks against my family members too," Pal has said in his application.

"It’s really painful to know that a leader like Modhwadia, who is a very senior and honourable member of a national party, can stoop to such a low level and resort to such character assassination with political motive," Pal has said in his complaint.

Reacting to the defamation suit, Modhwadia said: “It is unfortunate that the Modi government is shielding a person like Aadesh Pal. He does not have a credible background. It is not surprising that he has filed a defamation case.”

The Congress leader again demanded that Pal should immediately be removed from the post of GU vice-chancellor.