Srinagar, Sep 01 (KNS): Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former minister, Naeem Akhtar has sent a legal notice to Indian News Channel Republic TV and state BJP spokesman Khalid Jahangir for a defamatory and malicious news content carried out against him by the channel.
Akhtar through his lawyer Sheikh Rizwan Javeed, senior advocate at J&K High court has sought an unconditional apology from Republic TV and state BJP spokesman Khalid Jahangir for as “scandalous” news content broadcasted by the Republic TV including a statement made by Khalid Jahangir in letter and on a same news program.
The legal notice shot on August 30 has mentioned that the Republic TV broadcasted a news segment following a letter dated on June 21, this year written to the Governor by Khalid Jahangir wherein he levelled baseless allegations of corruption and favouritism against what he mentioned in letter as a “close aide” of the former chief minister. “That republic tv while reporting about the said letter deliberately and intentionally mentions the name of my client in connection with the allegations levelled in the aforementioned letter by Mr Khalid Jahangir,” reads the legal notice sent by Akhtar.
It further adds, “The presenters of the news segment while talking about the allegations of massive corruption happening at the J&K Projects Construction on their own conclude that such alleged corruption has been happening at the behest of my client.”
The notice has mentioned that the Republic TV has made direct references to Akhtar and the political party he belongs, with respect to the defamatory content of its news segment. “That both the Republic TV and Mr Khalid Jahangir have raised baseless, defamatory and malicious allegations against my client that he has been involved in some scan in building projects executed by the JKPCC without adducing even an iota of any evidence.”
It mentioned further that the said defamatory and Mala fide news segment and the letter, Republic TV and Khalid Jahangir have caused irreparable damage to Akhtar’s image and reputation as well and stating of the party to which he belongs. “Republic TV’s news story without any doubt is a clear and malicious attempt to create differences between the office bearers, members, workers and supporters of the J&K People’s Democratic Party and a spinster effort to break up the People’s Democratic Party,” reads the legal notice further.
It stated that these are very serious charges for a person like Akhtar who has had an impeccable career first as a civil servant and later as a political leader. It remarked further that Akhtar has never looked at any resource of any kind beyond what he has earned as his salary or received as a part of his family inheritance. “That the letter followed by Republic TV’s news is an evil attempt at tarnishing my client’s image and reputation, which he has tried to build over decades of hard work and honest dedication toward the people of J&K. Both the letter and the news story are full of outright lies, brazen concoctions and a motivation that goes beyond the attempts of destroying my client’s reputation.”
Akhtar has stated that the incorrect allegations raised by the Republic TV and Khalid Jahangir- BJP Member and former VC of JKPCC amount to criminal defamation under section 499 RPC/IPC and is punishable under the penal laws of both J&K and India under Section 500.
Akhtar further has sought an unconditional apology through print, electronic and social media for incorrect allegations levelled against him and by broadcasting the said public apology on republic TV with same prominence and frequency as the “impugned” news story within 15 days. (KNS)