A lawyer has filed a criminal complaint against the Bollywood lyricist, while another advocate has submitted a court notice seeking Rs 100 crore in damages for allegedly uttering “false and defamatory” statements against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Dhrutiman Joshi, an advocate and RSS activist, has filed a criminal defamation action against Javed Akhtar with the Kurla magistrate court.
On September 4, Joshi witnessed a news show in which Javed Akhtar drew comparisons between the Taliban and Hindu organisations in order to “criticise and discredit all the organisations fighting for the Hindu cause,” according to Joshi.
Joshi said in his complaint that Javed Akhtar claimed that,
“RSS has become a disease that has spread throughout society.” He further made a point that Javed Akhtar’s remarks were well-thought-out and designed to discredit the RSS and deter, degrade, and mislead those who have joined or are considering joining the RSS. He had been humiliated and slandered in the eyes of the general people.
Joshi claimed that Akhtar voiced his opinions without evidence and despite the fact that the country’s highest democratically elected officials, including the current President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and numerous Cabinet Ministers, are RSS sympathisers and members.
“The accused; Javed Akhtar has hopelessly failed to establish that even one RSS member or follower has acted like the Taliban and undemocratically taken over a state or nation, or if he has observed a gun-toting RSS fan,” Joshi added.
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The Kurla magistrate court will hear Joshi’s plea on October 30.
Apart from Joshi, a Mumbai-based lawyer and RSS volunteer served Javed Akhtar with a Rs 100 crore defamation notice on Wednesday, demanding an apology for allegedly uttering “false and defamatory” statements about the RSS.
Santosh Dubey, the lawyer, said that Javed Akhtar’s interview had harmed “the RSS’s image and dignity.”
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If Akhtar does not make an “unconditional written apology” and remove all of his remarks within seven days of receiving the notification, Dubey said he will launch a criminal action demanding Rs 100 crore in damages.