Naqvi gets bail in criminal defamation case

BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was on Wednesday granted bail by a Delhi court in connection with a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by former JD-U leader Sabir Ali for allegedly linking him with arrested Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal.

Naqvi appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain in pursuance to the summon issued against him and the judge granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000.

"The offences alleged against the accused (Naqvi) are bailable. Accused is admitted to bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000," the court said.

The court also directed Ali, who did not appear before it, to appear on the next date of hearing on September 16.

"No suitable explanation has been given by complainant (Ali) regarding his absence. One last opportunity is given to the complainant. Put up for further proceeding on September 16," the court said.

During the hearing, advocate Ajay Digpaul, who appeared for Naqvi, told the court that being the complainant, Ali should have appeared before the court.

On this, the court said if Ali or his main counsel would not attend the court on the next date of hearing, then his complaint would be dismissed.

The court had earlier summoned Naqvi as accused, saying "prima facie" there was evidence and sufficient ground to proceed against him for the alleged offence of defaming Ali.

Ali, in his complaint, had alleged that Naqvi had termed him as a friend of terrorist Bhatkal in March and the story was circulated and telecast in India as well as abroad through social media as well as various newspapers and channels.

The former JD(U) leader had said that after he made a statement appreciating BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in March this year, he was removed from JD-U.

After having deliberations with some senior BJP members, it was decided by BJP President Rajnath Singh that he should join them, he had said.

Ali had alleged that three-four hours after joining BJP, he started getting phone calls from his relatives, friends and media persons that Naqvi had allegedly tweeted against him on the social networking website, Twitter.

BJP had on March 29 cancelled Ali's membership after the controversy erupted following the tweet by Naqvi.

Ali, in his statement before the court, had deposed that the tweet made by Naqvi on his account has tarnished and maligned his reputation in the eyes of society, causing great mental suffering to him and his family.

He had claimed that content of the tweet was widely circulated in the print and social media and this was not disowned by Naqvi as apparent from the footage of his statement given to the news channels.