In what could spell more trouble for Javed Akhtar, a criminal case seeking damages of Rs 100 crore has been initiated while a lawyer has sent a legal notice to the Bollywood lyricist for allegedly making “false and defamatory” remarks against the Rashtrita Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
Advocate and RSS worker Dhrutiman Joshi has approached Kurla magistrate court with a complaint to initiate criminal defamation against Javed Akhtar.
According to Joshi, on September 4, he saw a news programme where Javed Akhtar drew parallels between Taliban and Hindu organisations to “vilify and defame all the organisations working for the Hindu cause.”
In his complaint, Joshi stated that Javed Akhtar claimed that “RSS has become a cancer that has spread in society.”
He added that Javed Akhtar’s statements were well-planned and thought, calculated to defame the RSS and to discourage, disparage and misguide people who have joined or would want to join the RSS.
Joshi added that he was humiliated and defamed in the eyes of the common public.
Joshi alleged that Akhtar expressed his views without any proof and even after knowing that the highest democratically elected office bearers of the country, like the incumbent President, Vice President, Prime Minister and several Cabinet Ministers in India have been supporters and members of the RSS.
“The accused has desperately failed to prove that even one member or supporter of RSS has acted like the Taliban and taken over a state or country undemocratically and if he has spotted a gun-toting RSS supporter,” added Joshi.
Joshi’s petition will be heard on October 30 by Kurla magistrate court.
Apart from Joshi, a Mumbai-based lawyer and RSS worker on Wednesday sent a legal notice to Javed Akhtar for allegedly making “false and defamatory” remarks against the RSS and sought an apology from him.
The lawyer, Santosh Dubey, stated that Javed Akhtar’s interview has damaged “the image and dignity of the RSS.” His complaint stated that Javed Akhtar has succeeded in defaming the RSS as well as its volunteers.
Dubey said that he would file a criminal case seeking damages of Rs 100 crore from Akhtar, if he fails to tender an “unconditional written apology” and withdraw all his statements within seven days from receipt of the notice.
