`100cr defamation notice to Akhtar over RSS remarks

A city based lawyer on Wednesday sent a defamation notice to veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar for allegedly comparing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with Taliban and making defamatory remarks against RSS in an interview to a news channel.

The lawyer has demanded an unconditional written apology from Akhtar and withdrawal of his statements against RSS failing which the lawyer has said he would not only file criminal defamation suit but also civil suit seeking `100 crore as damages to be paid to the RSS. Meanwhile, another city lawyer has filed a defamation suit of `100 crore against Akhtar for as due to his same interview.

Advocate and RSS worker Dhrutiman Joshi has approached Kurla magistrate court with a complaint to initiate criminal defamation against Javed Akhtar.

Mr Joshi has stated that

Akhtar’s statements were wellplanned, thought and calculated to defame the RSS and to discourage, disparage and misguide people who have joined or would want to join the RSS.

While advocate Santosh Dubey, has stated in the legal notice that if Akhtar failed to tender an apology within seven days of receipt of the notice Dubey would initiate legal action against him.

Akhtar (76) in a recent interview drew parallels between the Taliban and Hindu extremists.

Advocate Dubey in his notice has stated that Akhtar with his interview has defamed the RSS as well as several volunteers, Swayamsevaks and supporters like Dubey himself in the eyes of society at large and hence has committed an offence under Section 499 and 500 of the IPC.