Delhi HC restrains media from publishing CD on Congress' Singhvi

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi received some relief from the Delhi High court which has retrained his former  driver and media houses from publishing the contents of a CD which allegedly contains content of him in compromising positions. The court has restrained media houses including Aaj Tak, Headlines Today and The India Today Group from publishing the CD which was prepared by Mukesh Kumar Lal, who worked for Singhvi as a driver. [caption id=“attachment_278112” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Singhvi has also filed a complaint with the police against his former chauffeur. PTI”] [/caption] Singhvi, a senior lawyer and Congress national spokesperson, and another lawyer, Abhimanyu Bhandari, had moved the court last week. Justice Reva Khetrapal, in her order passed 13 April, issued notices to Lal and the media houses and issued summons to them. “Irreparable injury is likely to be caused to the reputation and goodwill of plaintiff 2 (Abhishek Manu Singhvi) in case the defendants are not restrained from disseminating the information allegedly in their possession in the form of CD,” the court said in its order. “Till the next date, the defendants, their agents and all other acting for and/or on their behalf are restrained from publishing, broadcasting, disseminating or distributing in any form or manner the contents of any alleged CD or any other material as described in the plaint in relation to Abhishek Manu Singhvi,” the court said. Legal counsel for Singhvi, Sangeeta Sharma, has issued a statement stating that the CD has “fabricated material", the Indian Express reported. According to the plea filed by Singhvi, his driver for several years Mukesh Kumar Lal left the job on 17 March without any prior notice and later on 24 March SMSed and called Singhvi to threaten and blackmail him about the CD. Singhvi alleged that the SMSes received from Lal made wild, baseless and false allegations about him and were deliberate mischievous attacks on his moral character. According to Singhvi’s petition, the SMSes referred to a CD, which Lal said that he would distribute to all media houses so as to severely embarrass and defame Singhvi. “Lal said that he needs a very large amount of money or else he will start spreading false rumours and allegations against Singhvi, including false statement regarding his moral character and will go to the media and distribute a CD which allegedly depicts alleged sexual acts made allegedly by Abishek Manu Singhvi and will not hesitate from making other false claim,” Singhvi’s petition stated. Singhvi said he had also filed a complaint in Gulmohar Park police station, Delhi on March 23 against Lal. According to his petition, Singhvi received calls from several senior political leaders on 24 March, saying that the CD in question was in the possession of some journalists. Singhvi claimed that such a CD either does not exist or if it does, it is clearly and obviously morphed, fabricated and forged. “Publicity to the content of such a CD would only be for sensational and salacious purpose and would amount to a gross and irreparable violation of an individual’s privacy and would be per se defamatory,” Singhvi submitted in his petition. with inputs from IANS