Publisher in soup over book to ‘produce’ son

A Delhi court has held guilty the publisher of an objectionable book — which suggested measures to get male child — for the offence punishable under section 22 of Preconception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (prohibition of sex selection).

The court convicted the accused publisher, Ram Prakash Gupta, noting that the prosecution had successfully proved its case against him. Gupta was the proprietor of the publication that had published the objectionable book, Shartiya Ladka Paida Hoga. This book was put on sale in two different stalls in the World Book Fair held at Pragati Maidan in 2004. Gupta, through his counsel had said that he was liable to be acquitted as the author of the book, Rajesh Dixit, had passed away and there were no documentary evidence against him or in connection to the case. But the court rejected his contention noting that he made the payment of the two book stalls where the objectionable book was put on sale.

“Accused made the payment of stalls. He is the proprietor of the publication which published the book. It clearly establishes the link and documentary evidence nails the lie of the accused,” the court noted while convicting him.

The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence in October. According to the prosecution, the objectionable book titled Shartiya Ladka Paida Hoga, was put on sale in two different stalls in the 16th World Book Fare held at India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) in 2004. The book was violating the provision of PNDT Act. National Book Trust (NBT) had organised the book fare. It’s officials told the police that the stalls where the objectionable books were being sold were allotted to one Creative Publication. Dr Sudha Malaya, who had been the joint secretary in the National Commission for Women (NCW), had complained to Avinash Kaur Mehta (director, family welfare, govt of Delhi) regarding the sale of the objectionable book at Dehati Pustak Bhandar.

Mr Mehta visited the book fair and later filed a complaint against the author of the book and the owner of the publication. In her complaint, she alleged that the book was not based on any scientific research and was thus misleading innocent people. It was learnt that Creative Publications published the objectionable book and the owner of the same was R.P. Gupta whereas Rajesh Dixit was the author of the book.