Supreme Court quashes defamation case against former MANUU Chancellor after apology

The Supreme Court recently quashed the criminal defamation proceedings against former Chancellor of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) booked for calling a professor a sexual predator [Firoz Bakth Ahmed v State of Telangana and ors].

Firoz Bakht Ahmed had moved the top court to quash the case initiated against him by Professor Ehtesham Ahmad Khan.

The Bench of Justices BR Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra allowed the plea after Ahmed agreed to tender an unconditional apology to Khan.

However, the Court asked Ahmed to pay a token amount of ₹1 lakh for the mental agony caused to Khan on account of the 'wild allegations'.

Further, Ahmed was asked to publish an unconditional apology advertisement in bold letters in Eenadu newspaper's first page within a month.

"Since now the appellant (Ahmed) has realized his mistake and is willing to tender an unconditional apology, we find that it will be in the interest of both the parties to put an end to the criminal proceedings as well as other proceedings pending between them ... The respondent no.2 herein would be entitled for return of court fee paid in the suit filed by him," the Court said.

The Telangana High Court had in April last year refused to quash the proceedings, leading to the appeal before the top court.

As per reports, Khan had filed a defamation case for deliberate 'slander and harm' to his reputation.

The High Court had found that even after Khan was discharged of the allegations, he was called a sexual predator by Ahmed.

The counsel for Ahmed contended that the said statement arose out of an emotional outburst with no malicious intention. Further, he is willing to tender an unconditional apology and compensate for notional damages, it was submitted.

In view of the above, the top court quashed the proceedings.

Senior Advocate Vibha Datta Makhija with advocates Karan Mamgain, Siddharth Kumar, Praveen Gaur, Dhruv Singh, Yogesh Sham Sonawane, and Anil Kumar appeared for Ahmed.

Advocates Balaji Srinivasan and Shreyas Ranjan appeared for the complainant-professor.

Advocates Devina Sehgal and Yatharth Kansal appeared for the State of Telangana.

[Read order]