Delhi court summons Odisha-based TV, its MD and editor in defamation case by BJD MP

New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) A court here on Tuesday summoned the managing director and the editor-in-chief of Odisha Television Limited in a criminal complaint filed by BJD MP Anubhav Mohanty for allegedly defaming him.

Metropolitan Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal directed the accused to appear before it on March 27, saying it was of the view that they "prima facie" commute the offence.

"Having gone through the complaint as well as the evidence led at the pre-summoning stage, I am of the prima facie view that the accused persons have committed the offences punishable under section 500 (defamation) read with 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code," the judge said.

The judge noted that the submissions made by advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, who claimed on behalf of the complainant that the accused, also including the television company, made several defamatory statements against the actor-turned-politician on various public platforms, including Youtube, and e-mail.

In his complaint, the MP had claimed that the accused had "intentionally and knowingly" indulged in the circulation and telecast of various false stories and articles about him "with the sole objective of harming his reputation and goodwill".

It was also claimed that the accused persons had initiated a "false propaganda" against the complainant in order to jeopardise its political career. PTI UK UK ANB ANB