Ex-minister Goel moves HC for quashing plaint

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, December 11

Former Minister for Industries Vipul Goel today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for quashing a criminal complaint alleging defamation and another offence under Sections 500 and 504 of the IPC pending before a Narnaul Chief Judicial Magistrate. Directions were also sought for quashing of summoning order dated October 31 and all subsequent proceedings.

His counsel Jasjit Singh Bedi prayed for staying the operation of the impugned summoning order and further proceedings. Taking up the petition against HCS officer Sandeep Singh and another respondent, Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill fixed January 29 as the next date of hearing in the case.

Sandeep Singh had filed the criminal complaint against the former minister for allegedly using derogatory remarks against him and his father in a meeting after he was told that the HCS officer was the son of a former minister. He was not present in the meeting as he was on leave, attending to his ailing father.

Bedi submitted that Goel had only conveyed to the gathering about his government’s policy of not appeasing any official or minister.

Bedi submitted that Goel had further conveyed to the gathering that the officer missing had to be responsible and accountable for his job and duties being an officer of the Haryana Government and leverage should not be extended to him being the son of a former minister.

Bedi contended that the statement was quoted, misquoted and misconceived by the media.

Bedi claimed that this publication was further misconceived and misused by the respondent-complainant against the petitioner in order to take revenge and to cover his conduct of being absent from official duty.