Sued by Gadkari, I&B minister gets bail

The case was filed by Gadkari in December 2010, under section 500 of the Indian Penal Code.

A metropolitan magistrate court Monday granted bail to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari in connection with a defamation case filed against him by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitin Gadkari.

Tewari had allegedly accused Gadkari of possessing a “benami flat” in the controversial Adarsh cooperative housing society in Colaba. Tewari had made the accusation at a public meeting in 2010.

On Monday, Tewari appeared before the Metropolitan Magistrate S S Gulane, along with his lawyer Manoj Mohite, and filed a bail application. Tewari was immediately let off on a personal bond of Rs 10,000.

Tewari’s appearance followed a notice issued by the magistrate on March 7 asking him to be present before the court on Monday.

While Tewari’s lawyer Mohite moved for bail, Gadkari’s lawyer Rameshwar Gite opposed it arguing that the statements made were highly derogatory and directly attacked Gadkari’s reputation. Gite also contended that Tewari’s statements were politically motivated and were intended to shatter Gadkari’s “image” in society.

The case was filed by Gadkari in December 2010, under section 500 of the Indian Penal Code.

In his complaint, Gadkari had claimed it was due to his “serious objection regarding the corruption scam in the name of Adarsh” that had led to the then Maharashtra Chief Minister stepping down and the CBI filing a case.

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The Congress, he said, was “annoyed and aggrieved with him for Gadkari’s expose on corruption eroding the party’s administration in the state”.

Gadkari had said Tewari’s statement was false and politically motivated.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

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