Charges framed against CM in defamation case

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Una, August 31

The Court of Judicial Magistrate Ist Class Una today framed charges against Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in a defamation case filed by the former chairman of State Staff Selection Board Hamirpur SM Katwal.

The charges against Virbhadra Singh were framed under sections 499 and 500 of the IPC for issuing defamatory statements against the SSSB Hamirpur and its then Chairman SM Katwal in a political rally organized during Kotla Assembly byelection in the year 2004.

Katwal, who was the then chairman of the SSSB Hamirpur, had alleged in his petition that Virbhadra Singh alleged in a political rally in 2004 that Dhumal had opened the SSSB at Hamirpur where jobs were being auctioned and even the non-Himachalis were being given jobs through the SSSB. The charges levelled by Virbhadra Singh were false and defamatory and had maligned his reputation, SM Katwal had alleged in the petition.

The charges were read before the counsel of Virbhadra Singh as he was granted exemption from personal appearance for today by the court.

The defamation case was filed against Virbhadra Singh by SM Katwal in 2004. However, Virbhadra Singh had filed a revision petition against his summoning in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Una. The revision petition of Virbhadra Singh was accepted by the Additional District and Sessions Court Una in the year 2005.

However, Katwal moved Himachal High Court against the decision of district and sessions court Una orders. The Himachal High Court in an order passed on March 21st, 2014 referred the case back to the trial court, Una.