Kannada Actor Chetan Kumar Files Civil Defamation Suit Against Labour Minister Arbail Shivram Hebbar

The Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, on June 24 while hearing the suit, directed "At this stage I am of the opinion that before passing orders on I.A.No. 1 and 2, it is necessary to hear the other side. Hence, I proceed to pass the following- ORDER Issue emergent notice of I.A.No. 1 and 2 and suit summons to the defendant through court if P.F paid. Suit summons and notice on I.A.No.1 and 2, returnable by 14-07-2021."

As per the plaint filed by Kumar through Advocate Manju & Manju Associates, the plaintiff is well known as an actor and he has been in the movies such as Aa Dinagalu, Birugaali, Suryakaanti, Dashamukha, Mynaa, Noorondu Nenapu, Athiratha and Ranam. He has organized, spoke at, and led state-wide socio-political seminars & campaigns such as pro- class/caste/gender equality measures, private sector reservations, all-women police stations demands, youth awareness, anti-fascism discussions, and grassroots mobilization with farmers, student, backwards, workers, women's and youth organizations.

Further, it is said that the Plaintiff had tweeted his opinions on 27.5.2021, 1.6.2021 and 6.6.2021 wherein he quoted Dr. Ambedkar and Periyar and their criticism on the caste system and Brahminism. Thereafter, Pavan Kumar Sharma, the President of Vipra Yuva Vedike, filed a complaint to the Basavanagudi Police on 10.6.2021 against the plaintiff for having allegedly committed offences by hurting religious sentiments of Hindus as a whole and insulted their beliefs by commenting in the social medias like Facebook, Youtube, Instagram. The Basavanagudi Police have registered a case for the offences punishable under section 153B and 295 A of IPC on 10.6.2021.

It is said that the Defendant, who is a Member of Legislative Assembly and Minister for Labour in the Government of Karnataka, tweeted on 11.6.2021 by criticizing and condemning the statements made by the Plaintiff in the above said 3 (three) video tweets.

The plea says the plaintiff is not only a cinema personality and he is committed to the social works and he dreams to create a society without disparity. The Defendant by making the aforesaid statement has portrayed the Plaintiff in a false light and deprived him of his reputation. "In other words the said portion of the defamatory tweet was made on 11.06.2021 which contained baseless, shocking statements against the Plaintiff, which have seriously jeopardized the reputation of the Plaintiff in the Society. The said tweet has no iota of truth and has been tweeted without verification of facts, knowingly with malicious intentions, solely with a view to disturb the peace of mind of the Plaintiff and tarnish his image, integrity and honesty before the public at large," the plaint says.

It is also claimed that the defendant has made the statement with malafide intention to damage the reputation and image of the plaintiff in the society and therefore he is liable to pay damages for the defamatory statement for the harm, loss, injury and damage caused to the Plaintiff and his personal and professional reputation.

Kumar has sought the following prayers.

#Direction directing the defendant to pay to the Plaintiff a sum of Rs.1/- or such other sum as this Hon'ble Court may deem, just and proper as and by way of damages for defamation.

#Direct the Defendant to post/publish a complete and unconditional apology to the Plaintiff in his tweet for having posted portion of defamatory statement in his tweet on 11.6.2021 or in such form as this Hon'ble Court directs;

# For a permanent injunction restraining the Defendant by himself, his respective servants and agents, executors from in any manner holding any press conference or publishing, printing, circulating, distributing any press notes posting in social Media which is in any manner defamatory of the Plaintiff and/or his family members.