Senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today lodged a complaint against a national English daily accusing it of maligning his image by publishing a "fake" news story related to a bypoll held last year based on a "doctored" audio tape.
Jogi sought action against the newspaper under Information Technology Act, 2000 in an application to Civil Lines Police Station this evening, its Station House Officer Virendra Chaturvedi told PTI.
In his complaint, Jogi has alleged that "a baseless and fake story" appeared in the daily on December 30 which was meant to malign his image.
"The audio tape (on which the story is based) is doctored. My voice is created by some other person or by other means which will be proved after examination of tape by experts.
"The published news is a punishable offence under Information Technology Act," the Congress leader said in the complaint and demanded action against the newspaper.
Jogi has already served notices to the newspaper, its Chairman, Editor, Editor-in-Chief, publisher and correspondent asking them publish clarification regarding the news story. If they fail to do so, Jogi said, he will file a defamation suit against them under civil and criminal laws.
A political storm has erupted in the State after an audio tape containing telephonic talks purportedly between Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's son-in-law Puneet Gupta, Ajit, his son Amit, then Ajit loyalistsFiroz Siddiqui and Ameen Memon surfaced, alleging their involvement in "fixing" the bypoll to Antagarh Assembly seat.
Congress candidate for Antagarh (ST) seat Manturam Pawar, then considered an Ajit loyalist, had withdrawn from the fray just a day ahead of the last date for withdrawal. The tape purportedly contains conversations suggesting money exchanged hands.
