Akhtar had filed suit against Molvi Abid Ansari and BJP activist Khalid Jahangir Sheikh for levelling ‘baseless charges of corruption’ against him on Republic TV
Court directed Chief Editor of Republic TV Arnab Goswami, Journalist Aditya Raj Koul, Journalist Zeenat Zeeshan Fazil and Anchor Sakal Bhat to appear before court on February 9
Srinagar: Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar on Thursday directed managing director of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami, to appear before court in connection with the criminal defamation case filed by former minister and senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar.
Akhtar on 16 November, 2018, had filed a criminal defamation suit against Molvi Abid Ansari and BJP activist Khalid Jahangir Sheikh and others for levelling baseless and fabricated charges of corruption against him while appearing on the channel.
According to Akhtar’s counsel, Jahangir Iqbal Ganai, Abid Ansari chose not to appear before the court and that the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Srinagar, Aijaz Ahmad Khan has issued an arrest warrant (bailable in nature) against him.
He added that Khalid Jahangir appeared before the court and submitted the bail bonds. The case has been listed for recording of statement on February 9, 2019.
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Akhtar had filed the complaint in court in which he had accused Republic TV of broadcasting “scandalous” news content against him.
The CJM on the presentation of the compliant, and taking note of the statement made by the complainant supported by statement of a witness, has taken cognisance of the complaint and has directed the accused to appear before the court.
In the CJM’s direction, Managing Director of the news channel Republic TV, Arnab Goswami along with Journalists Aditya Raj Koul, Zeenat Zeeshan Fazil and Sakal Bhatt have been asked to appear before the court on the next date of hearing which has been fixed on February 9.
The complainant has said that the accused should be tried and punished in accordance with the law for the Commission of the offence under section 499 and 500 of RPC.
