A local court on Thursday slapped a fine of Rs 3,000 on former civil aviation minister and NCP leader Praful Patel for seeking yet another adjournment in a defamation case. Mr Patel was fined by the 62nd Bhoiwada Metropolitan Magistrate court after his lawyer sought an adjournment in the criminal defamation case filed by him against Jitender Bhargava, former executive director of Air India and author of the book, The Descent of Air India.
Magistrate V.P. Adone imposed the fine after rejecting the plea of Mr Patel’s lawyers. The judge also fixed February 12 as the next and final hearing date in the case.
The case concerns Mr Bhargava’s controversial book, in which he had spoken about the decline of Air India under Mr Patel by citing numerous acts of “omissions and commissions” by Mr Patel. He also cited other factors responsible for Air India’s financial incapacitation and current state. In it, Mr Bhargava had mentioned several “reckless and motivated” decisions, which were taken between 2004-2008. During this period, Mr Patel was the aviation minister while V. Thulasidas was the chairman of Air India.
The proceedings of this case have been getting delayed since January 2014. Incidentally, Thursday’s date had been fixed at Mr Patel’s request and convenience after the judge had categorically told his lawyer on November 5, 2015 that January 28, 2016 would be the last date. Mr Bhargava, said, “In November 2013, advocate Maneshinde filed a criminal defamation case in the Bhoiwada metropolitan magistrate’s court against me and the book publisher Bloomsbury on behalf of Patel. In January 2014, Bloomsbury reached an out-of-court settlement with Patel and withdrew the book, destroying unsold copies and tendering an apology to Patel.” However, Mr Bhargava refused to go in for an out-of-court settlement and published it as an e-book.
