Delhi court summons ABP News editor in defamation case by Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai

A Delhi court on Friday issued summons to ABP News, its Chief Editor and Publisher Atideb Sarkar, and other office bearers in connection with a criminal defamation case filed by Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai..Judicial Magistrate Tarunpreet Kaur of the Patiala House Court said that a prima facie case is made out that an ABP News article connecting Rai to conman Sanjay Rai Sherpuria alias Sanjay Prakash Rai is defamatory.“In view of the above discussion, pre-summoning evidence led by the complainant [Pradeep Rai], documents brought on record and the submissions made, the present complaint stands allowed and the undersigned takes cognizance of offence under section 500 IPC. Let summons be issued to accused 1. Atideb Sarkar (Chief Editor & Publisher, ABP), 2. Aveek Sarkar (Vice Chairman & Editor Emeritus, ABP Group), 3. Avinash Pandey (CEO, ABP), 4. ABP News on filing of PF within 15 days from today, for offence under section 500 IPC, for the NDOH (Next Date of Hearing),” the Court ordered..Rai has sued ABP News, its editor and others for defamation over an article titled Sanjay Sherpuria case: Mahathag Sanjay Rai Sherpuria par kas raha shikanja, bhatije ko STF ne puchhtachh ke ie bulaya (Sanjay Sherpuria case: Conman Sanjay Sherpuria under scanner, newphew called for questioning by the STF).The Senior Advocate told the Court that the article falsely claims that he is the nephew of Sherpuria and that notice has been issued to him for questioning by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). The Court was told that the article was published without verifying the details and that Rai’s brother’s name has also been mentioned in it. Sherpuria is a businessman from Lucknow who has been arrested on allegations that he and his aides collected money from several people by claiming close association with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and senior bureaucrats. .[Read Order]