New Delhi: The Delhi additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Vishal Pahuja, has put Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on trial for allegedly defaming Zee Media Corporation Ltd.
Zee News filed a defamation complaint against Moitra for allegedly making statements against the channel to the media. The alleged defamatory statements against the channel were made by the MP while she was speaking to reporters on allegations against her.
The court has framed the charges against the politician under section 499 and 500 (related to criminal defamation) of Indian Penal Code.
The court accepted the arguments advanced by advocate Vijay Aggarwal, the counsel for Zee Media, that there was enough evidence against Moitra to put her on trial.
The offence of defamation provides a simple imprisonment which may extent up to two years.
Moitra, in fact, had filed a criminal defamation complaint against Zee News and its editor-in-chief, Sudhir Chaudhary, in connection with a show aired by it on one of her speeches delivered in Parliament.
