Javed Akhtar seeks dismissal of defamation suit against him over RSS-Taliban comparison

Mumbai: Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar on Monday filed an application before a court in adjoining Thane district seeking dismissal of a defamation suit filed against him over his alleged remarks comparing the RSS with the hardline group Taliban.

The 76-year-old poet-lyricist termed the suit as “vexatious and meritless” that has been filed only to “intimidate and exhaust" him and maintained his alleged defamatory remarks were not specific either towards the RSS or its existing members.

Akhtar submitted the application through his advocate Jay Bhardwaj urging the court to reject the suit filed by RSS activist Vivek Champanerkar on the ground that the plaintiff (Champanerkar) does not have locus standi and cause of action to



file the plea.Champanerkar, in his suit, has not demanded any damages for himself, but has sought relief for the RSS, the application said.

“In the present case, the goal of the plaintiff (Champanerkar) is achieved if the defendant (Akhtar) succumbs to fear, intimidation, mounting legal costs or simple exhaustion and abandons the criticism. Winning is not the intent of the plaintiff,” it added.

The former Rajya Sabha MP further said a suit for defamation can be filed only by a person who has been allegedly defamed.“At the outset, it is most respectfully submitted that the alleged defamatory remarks made by the defendant (Akhtar) are not specific either, he said”.