Ex-PM HD Deve Gowda told to pay Rs2-crore damages to NICE
Bengaluru, June 22
A court here has directed former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda to pay Rs 2 crore as damages to the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) for his “defamatory statement” against the company in a television interview 10 years ago.
The Eighth City Civil and Sessions Judge Mallanagouda found basis in the plaint filed by the NICE, whose promoter and managing director is Ashok Kheny, a former Bidar South MLA.
Referring to the interview telecast by a Kannada news channel under the caption “Gowdara Garjane” on June 28, 2011, the court directed Gowda to pay damages of Rs 2 crore to the company for the loss of its reputation on account of defamatory comments made by him.
The JDS supremo’s outburst was against the NICE project and he had called it a “loot”. — PTI
