Put Anna Hazare defamation case on fast track: Bombay high court

A division bench of the Bombay high court at Aurangabad, comprising justice PV Hardas and AV Potdar, has directed the Jalgaon judicial magistrate court to speed up hearing of the defamation case filed by the then minister of state for food and civil supply Suresh Jain in 2003 against anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.

While addressing a press conference at Nanded in May 2003, Hazare had levelled serious charges of corruption against four state ministers including Jain. Other three ministers were Dr Padamsinh Patil, Vijaykumar Gavit and Nawab Malik. Jain had filed the defamation case under sections 499 and 500 of the IPC. In his defamation petition Jain had also mention that Hazare had alleged that the four ministers are actually “goons”.

Jain had filed a petition in Aurangabad submitting that his defamation case is pending in the Jalgaon court since nine years. He had pleaded for a speedy hearing.

While confirming the high court’s order, Hazare’s advocate Santosh Jadhawar told DNA that the HC has directed for a speedy hearing of the case but not laid down any time limit for the decision.