The Ahmedabad Metropolitan Magistrate's court on Wednesday would hear the plea by Jay Amit Shah, son of BJP national president Amit Shah, who had on Monday approached the court to file a defamation suit against seven entities.
File image of BJP chief Amit Shah with son Jay Amit Shah. AFP
According to a report in The Indian Express, the seven respondents are the author of the article Rohini Singh, founding editors of the news portal Siddarth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia and MK Venu, managing editor Monobina Gupta, public editor Pamela Philipose and the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the non-profit company that publishes The Wire.
The Wire had on 8 October published an article The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah by Rohini stating that turnover of Amit Shah's son Jay had increased manifold within a year of Narendra Modi becoming the Prime Minister of India in 2014. The article claimed that the revenue of Jay’s company had jumped from mere Rs 50,000 to over Rs 80 crore in a single year and that his firm, whose business was chiefly stock trading, turned to windmill generation with public sector entity loan.
Jay filed his affidavit in court No. 13 of additional chief metropolitan magistrate SK Gadhvi, who later ordered a court of enquiry under Section 202 of Criminal Procedure Code. The section calls for an enquiry into the case before the court is able to take a decision whether there are sufficient grounds for the case to be heard. The judge had posted the case for hearing on Wednesday at 3 pm and asked the complainant to produce witnesses on his behalf.
Jay's contention
Jay on his part has stated that as a BTech from Nirma University, he enjoys an "excellent reputation" in society in general and the business community in particular and also for being a self-made and an honest businessman. The application stated that Jay is actively involved in several social and cultural activities, apart from being secretary of Gujarat Cricket Association and member of the finance committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
In his complaint, Jay claimed that the accused had "wilfully" and "fraudulently" tampered with the evidence. "The article is well-thoughout, well-planned and well-executed conspiracy against the complainant and dignitaries mentioned in the article," the complaint read.
Jay’s lawyer SV Raju had claimed that the write up was changed unlawfully and that they did not carry the information provided by them in exact format.
The BJP leaders, including Union Railways minister Piyush Goyal and Home Minister Rajnath Singh have defended Jay Shah, even as Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took potshots at BJP saying that BJP's campaign of Beti Bachao (Save the girl child) now appears to have turned in to the campaign about Beta Bachao (Save the son).
Updated Date: Oct 11, 2017 15:29:26 IST
Highlights
Two witnesses produced
However, two witnesses — Rajiv Hasmukh Shah and Jaimin Nareshbhai Shah — were produced before the judge as witnesses in the case.
Court shifts case to 16 October
The court was forced to shift the case to 16 October as Jay Amit Shah's lawyer SV Raju did not turn up. He was busy with some other case in the high court. The court made it clear that if he fails to appear for the next hearing as well then the court would not provide a new date. Jay Amit Shah too did not come for the hearing.
Despite the request by an associate lawyer of SV Raju to put the next hearing on 13 October, the judge refused to change the date from 16 October.
Proceedings begin with the name of Jay Amit Shah being called out by the court.
Case listed in ' Process to witness' stage
The case related to criminal enquiry — CR EN/4918/2017 — between Jay Amitbhai Shah v/s Rohini Singh listed as case no. 36 for the day in the court of Justice SK Gadhavi, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. The case is listed in ' Process to witness' stage.
Govt lawyer Tushar Mehta likely to represent Jay Amit Mehta
"I have taken permission from the Law Ministry on 6th October for this issue. I am being consulted in this case. I may even appear for the case in court," said additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta to NDTV.
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15:18 (IST)
Two witnesses produced
However, two witnesses — Rajiv Hasmukh Shah and Jaimin Nareshbhai Shah — were produced before the judge as witnesses in the case.
15:14 (IST)
Court shifts case to 16 October
The court was forced to shift the case to 16 October as Jay Amit Shah's lawyer SV Raju did not turn up. He was busy with some other case in the high court. The court made it clear that if he fails to appear for the next hearing as well then the court would not provide a new date. Jay Amit Shah too did not come for the hearing.
Despite the request by an associate lawyer of SV Raju to put the next hearing on 13 October, the judge refused to change the date from 16 October.
15:09 (IST)
Proceedings begin with the name of Jay Amit Shah being called out by the court.
15:08 (IST)
Court in lunch break
The court has not assembled after the lunch break so far and it it is not much crowded. The court is likely to begin proceedings at 3 pm. Not much security is visible either in the court premises or near the courtroom.
14:57 (IST)
Court in lunch break
The court has not assembled after the lunch break so far and it it is not much crowded. The court is likely to begin proceedings at 3 pm. Not much security is visible either in the court premises or near the courtroom.
14:53 (IST)
Case listed in ' Process to witness' stage
The case related to criminal enquiry — CR EN/4918/2017 — between Jay Amitbhai Shah v/s Rohini Singh listed as case no. 36 for the day in the court of Justice SK Gadhavi, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. The case is listed in ' Process to witness' stage.
14:43 (IST)
Govt lawyer Tushar Mehta likely to represent Jay Amit Mehta
"I have taken permission from the Law Ministry on 6th October for this issue. I am being consulted in this case. I may even appear for the case in court," said additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta to NDTV.