Files sought in army chief defamation case

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) A court Friday asked the defence ministry to submit a file regarding a press release in which Army Chief General V.K. Singh had revealed that Lt. Gen. (retd) Tejinder Singh had offered him a bribe.

The court listed the defamation case filed by Tejinder Singh against the army Chief for June 6.

'I find that at this stage, on the basis of the evidence available, this court cannot draw any positive or negative inference and it would be appropriate for this court to postpone the issuance of process and hold an inquiry...,' Metropolitan Magistrate Jay Thareja said.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Tejinder Singh. The retired army officer requested the court to summon and initiate proceedings against the army chief and others for allegedly making libellous statement against him in the media and accusing him of bribery.

'In pursuance of the inquiry, it is directed that the file regarding publication of the press release dated March 5, 2012 be summoned through the defence ministry,' said the court.

Meanwhile, the court found sufficient prima facie inference that Lt. Colonel Hitten Sawhney and General S.L. Narsimhan were involved in the publication of the press release.

The court also observed that the testimony of the complainant and other witness were sufficient to establish that the press release had defamed Tejinder Singh.

The case was transferred to Magistrate Thareja by a higher court after another magistrate earlier this month decided not to hear the case.

Alleging that the officers misused their official position, power and authority to level false charges against him, Tejinder also named Army Vice Chief Lt. Gen. S.K. Singh, Director General Military Intelligence Lt. Gen. B.S. Thakur, Additional Director General Public Information Major Gen. S.L. Narsimhan and Directorate General of Public Information Staff Officer Lt. Col. Hitten Sawhney.