Plea In SC Seeking Transfer Of Indiabulls Case To Delhi

Advocate Prashant Bhushan has moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of a criminal defamation case filed against him by Indiabulls Venture Capital Management Company Ltd in Rohtak, Haryana, to Delhi.

Bhushan claimed that the defamation case is merely “vindictive action” against him, to silence him from highlighting illegalities committed by the company, in the conduct of its business.

It may be recalled that Indiabulls had filed a criminal defamation case against him before the Court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Rohtak, Haryana, for publishing allegedly defamatory content against the company on social media websites namely, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, causing substantial damage to its goodwill.

In his petition, Bhushan contended that criminal proceedings have been initiated only to harass him since he is the signing authority and Secretary of Citizens Whistle Blowers Forum.

It is the Forum which had originally filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Delhi High Court, seeking a probe into illegalities and violations of law allegedly committed by Indiabulls’ promoters.

Bhushan also submitted that he is a practicing advocate in Delhi and hence traveling to Haryana in order to attend hearings would cause him “undue difficulty”.

He alleged that Indiabulls has used this very fact as leverage to silence him, by filing the case in Haryana.

Bhushan has also moved a stay application, stating that proceedings before the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Rohtak, Haryana be stayed, pending the final disposal of his transfer petition.