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Tribune News Service
Amritsar, September 16
A local court on Monday held that Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh was holding a public office and a news item regarding his son in an income tax matter was a natural consequence of the same. The observation came as the court vacated earlier interim order restraining a private news channel from telecasting news related to income tax case against CM’s son Raninder Singh.
The news channel had telecast news in May last year, alleging Raninder Singh, who has evaded taxation dues, had stashed away black money to the tune of Rs 30 crore in the Swiss branch of HSBC bank.
Capt Amarinder then approached the court praying that the channel and other defendants be restrained from broadcasting through print and electronic media, or through the Internet, the allegations against him and his son till the final decision of the case.
Contesting the case on behalf of the media house, advocate Ajay Kumar Vermani stated that the earlier news item was based on the findings of income tax department on the basis of complaint filed in criminal court in Ludhiana.
Taking up the matter, civil judge senior division Ravinderjit Singh Bajwa stated the court was of the opinion that applicant-CM has neither a prime facie case in his favour, nor balance of convenience in his favour and irreparable loss or injury would not be caused to him if the injunction was not granted in his favour.
Judge Bajwa further stated that the allegation by the channel and other defendant was a matter of public record. The court added that the applicant had a right to sue the respondents for defamation and seek damages if the same were found to be false and malicious.
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