A Delhi court summoned wrestler Bajrang Punia on September 6 in connection with a...
Digital Desk: A Delhi court summoned wrestler Bajrang Punia on September 6 in connection with a criminal defamation suit filed against him by wrestling coach Naresh Dahiya.
Metropolitan Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal directed Punia to appear before the court on that day, stating that he is of the "prima facie" view that all the elements of defamation were made out.
He stated that at the summoning stage, it was fairly clear that the court was not compelled to conduct a comparative investigation of the accused's prospective defenses.
"After reviewing the complaint, supporting documents, and pre-summoning evidence, I am of the preliminary opinion that all of the elements of defamation are made out. "It appears that the statement made at the press conference was made with malicious intent and not in good faith," the judge said.
"In light of this, let the accused, namely, Bajrang Punia, be summoned for the commission of an offence punishable under Section 499 read with Section 500 (both dealing with criminal defamation) of the IPC," he added.
According to the complaint, Punia, along with other wrestlers/persons, made defamatory remarks about Dahiya at a press conference held on May 10 at Jantar Mantar during a protest against alleged sexual harassment of certain female wrestlers by outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
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