First Global files defamation case against Sucheta Dalal

First Global, the brokerage, today claimed that Sucheta Dalal, columnist with Indian Express, was produced in the Esplanade Court, Mumbai, today, pursuant to a warrant issued by the court in a defamation case filed by First Global and Shankar Sharma against her.

She was released on a bond and bail and committed to be present in court on February 18, 2005, to answer to charges under Sections 499, 500, 501 and 502 read with Section 349, of the Indian Penal Code, First Global said in a release.

The company added that it had filed the charges against Dalal on account of her "carrying out a deliberate, mala fide, and vicious vilification campaign against them, over the past years".

But the Indian Express, which has also been made a party to the case, said in a release that Dalal had "attended the court today pursuant to the summons received", that she was not "produced" before the court and called First Global's release "false and mischievous".

The newspaper also said that First Global's press release wrongly stated that Dalal was committed to being present in court on February 18.

Indian Express and Dalal have informed the court of the contents of the press release issued by First Global, on which a notice, returnable on January 4, was issued to Shankar Sharma.