New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tendered an apology to Vivek Doval, son of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Saturday in connection with a defamation case filed by the latter.
The apology was accepted by Vivek Doval, and the Delhi court hearing the matter subsequently closed the case against Ramesh.
Vivek Doval had filed a criminal defamation case against Ramesh after the Congress leader held a press conference in January 2019 over a report published by news magazine Caravan.
Caravan was also named in the suit.
‘Accusations made drawing conclusions from article ‘
Appearing before judge Sachin Gupta, additional metropolitan magistrate, Rouse Avenue, Ramesh said, “I want to clarify that these statements or accusations were made drawing conclusions from an article that was published the previous day in the Caravan magazine. As the case progressed, I realised that perhaps the same independent verification may have been in order.
However, the General Elections were close and the questions raised in the article seemed appropriate for being highlighted in making certain insinuations against you and your family.”
“Thus, I would like to offer my apologies to you and your family for any hurt the statements may have caused,” he added.
Ramesh also “urged” the Congress to remove the press conference from their website.
Vivek Doval said he has accepted the apology made by Ramesh, but the defamation case against Caravan magazine will continue.
ThePrint reached Ramesh for a comment. However, calls went unanswered till the time of publishing this report.
The court had taken cognisance of Vivek Doval’s criminal defamation complaint in January 2019 and Ramesh was granted bail in May 2019.
Caravan, in its article, had said Vivek Doval ran a web of companies, including a Cayman Islands hedge fund, even as NSA Ajit Doval demanded a crackdown on tax havens.
In his complaint, Vivek Doval had said the magazine and Ramesh had attempted to “deliberately malign and defame” him to “settle scores with his father”.
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So the extra smart Shri Jairam Ramesh has to apologise. I hope that he learns from this chastising experience. Now for Congress and that Leftist rant rag called Caravan.