NEW DELHI: Patiala House Court, Delhi was approached today for urgent listing of Vikram Randhawa case, which comprises two legal suits, a Criminal Suit for defamation under Indian Penal Code and a Civil Suit of Rs.One Crore for damages.
The Delhi based Panel of Advocates comprising Jeevesh Nagrath, Narendra Mann, Chandan Dutta and Manoj Pant, appearing on behalf of their client Dr Jitendra Singh, requested for urgent listing of the Case. The request came in the backdrop of COVID guidelines restricting the functioning of the courts and directing the courts to accommodate only the cases of urgent nature. When asked for details, the Advocates led by Jeevesh Nagrath refused to comment saying that it is not appropriate for them to say anything on the issue since the matter is subjudice and under the consideration of Hon’ble Court .
In fact, others also, including the media reporters, who repeat or reproduce unproven allegations against the petitioner, are liable to invite Contempt of Court, since the matter is subjudice. There are two Legal Suits filed against Vikram Randhawa on behalf of the Petitioner. One of these is a Criminal Complaint filed under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, which was lodged after Randhawa failed to respond to the Legal Notice served on him within the stipulated time period. The second Legal Case is a Civil Suit claiming Rs.One crore for defamation. Pertinent to mention that Vikram Randhawa had , in a press conference on the 3rd of this month, made certain unsubstantiated allegations against several political and official functionaries without providing any proof or evidence for the same.
Within a few hours, the Parliamentary Incharge of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha Constituency, Sanjeev Sharma had demanded an apology from Randhawa or present evidence of what he had said. With no response coming forth, a Legal Notice was then served by the Delhi based lawyers hired by Dr Jitendra Singh, in which it was clearly mentioned that Randhawa should, within 24 hours, hold a press conference exclusively to tender his apology for the allegations made without evidence. Subsequently, with no response received, two Legal Suits, namely a Criminal Complaint and a Civil Suit, were filed in the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House District Court, Delhi.
It was also made clear that the apology tendered publicly before the media should not be confined only to the language used but should categorically state that the allegations made were false, baseless and without any evidence.
