Court directs Babul Supriyo to retract defamatory statements against Abhishek

Kolkata: The City Civil Court on Tuesday directed the Union Minister of State for Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Babul Supriyo, to retract the defamatory statements that he made against TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee.

It may be recalled that in November 2017, Supriyo had made the "malicious and defamatory" statements against Banerjee at a Press conference stating that the latter "illegitimately profiteered to the tune of Rs 17 to Rs 18 crore against smuggling of coal in Bengal." It got published and circulated widely in different media and even on social networking sites.

It led to defamation of Banerjee and his counsels moved court in December 2017.

The Third Bench of the City Civil Court had granted an interim order of injunction in this connection restraining Supriyo "not to make any derogatory comment or defamatory statement against Banerjee".

The Court on July 24 ordered Supriyo "to retract the defamatory statements made in November 2017 at the Press conference in Asansol against Abhishek Banerjee by sending a letter or otherwise within a fortnight from the date of the order." Sanjay Basu, Advocate for Banerjee, said: "Babul Supriyo failed to produce any evidence in support of his defamatory statement and hence the Court passed the order of injunction and retraction in favour of Abhishek Banerjee. The falsity in Babul Supriyo's statement has been exposed."