A sessions court in Mumbai recently rejected veteran lyricist-poet Javed Akhtar’s plea challenging summons issued against him by a magistrate in connection with a criminal case filed by a lawyer over his alleged objectionable remarks against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The lawyer, Santosh Dubey in October 2021 filed a complaint against Mr. Akhtar before the metropolitan magistrate court in suburban Mulund under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation).
After hearing both sides’ arguments, the magistrate issued a summons to the veteran lyricist in December last year.
The 78-year-old Bollywood personality, through his lawyer, filed a petition before the sessions court against the summons.
Mr. Dubey said, “The session court has rejected the revision application filed by renowned writer Javed Akhtar against the Mulund court’s order.”
He added that Mr. Akhtar has to appear before the Mulund court on March 31.
The complainant, who claims to be an RSS supporter, alleged Mr. Akhtar, with a view to gaining political score, unnecessarily dragged the name of the RSS and defamed the organization in a “calculated and well-planned move” while making the remarks during a television interview.
The complaint alleged that the statements made by the accused during an interview were aimed at defaming the Nagpur-headquartered Hindutva organization as well as discouraging and misguiding people who have joined the RSS or would like to join the outfit.
Mr. Akhtar made controversial remarks in the backdrop of the Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
