Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar, who was scheduled to pronounce the order today on the plea of Tejinder Singh, deferred it till May 5.
He asked Tejinder Singh's counsel about the roles of the accused in issuing the March 5 press release. This release, Tejinder Singh alleged, was circulated with the sole intention to defame him.
"I need some material clarification. What is the independent role of the five accused? Are they signatory to it (the press release)?," the magistrate asked.
Advocate Anil Aggarwal, who appeared for Tejinder Singh, said that the Army Chief took his name in the media and Lt Col Hitten Sawhney, posted in the media cell and named as accused in the case, had signed the press release.
"This is a straight case. There is media prosecution going against me. If he (Army Chief) had some information about the bribe offer as he had said in the press release, instead of filing a complaint with the police or court, he took my name in the media.
"I am outside the government and how can I know what is going inside," he said.
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Tejinder Singh, a former Director General of Defence Intelligence Agency, had filed defamation complaint against the Army Chief and four other Army officials.
Besides Army Chief, he has named Vice Chief of Army Staff S K Singh, Lt Gen B S Thakur (DG MI), Major General S L Narshiman (Additional Director General of Public Information) and Lt Col Hitten Sawhney, accusing them of misusing their official position, power and authority to level false charges against him. (More) PTI ABA RKS