Court restrains suspended IPS officer Basant Rath from making ‘derogatory remarks’

Dinesh Manhotra

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 11

Three days after he was placed under suspension by the Ministry of Home Affairs for alleged instances of ‘gross misconduct and misbehaviour’, a court in Jammu on Saturday directed IPS officer Basant Rath not to publish any post or material by any means of communication which is “defamatory or derogatory” against six persons who claimed to be “acquainted with the current Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh”.

The order was passed by the 2nd Additional Munsiff, Jammu, Jeewan Kumar Sharma on a suit filed by six businessmen of Jammu Parveen Kumar Mittal, Virender Dubey, Saurabh Dang, Rahul Bansal, Davinder Verma and Amit Kohli.

The plaintiffs have stated that they are “acquainted with the current DGP, Dilbag Singh and have family relations with him”.

“It appears that (Rath) has some personal grouse against Dilbag Singh and in this regard, he is maligning the image of not only the Director General of Police, but also the plaintiffs,” they said.

After hearing their counsel, the court issued a notice to Rath for filing a written statement in the main suit as well as objections in the application for grant of temporary injunction.

Court also directed Rath not to publish any post or material by any means of communication which is defamatory or derogatory against the plaintiffs. This order is, however, subject to objections from the other side. The case has been listed again on July 25.

On Wednesday, Basant Rath was suspended by the Ministry of Home Affairs for alleged instances of “gross misconduct and misbehaviour”.

On June 25, Rath had filed a written complaint against DGP Dilbag Singh, fearing “the top cop poses a threat to his safety and reputation”.

For the last couple of months Rath has been making veiled attacks on the DGP through social media.