Surat: A court here ordered the registration of a criminal case against two BJP councillors, Ashok Dhami and Kanu Gediya, for allegedly defaming AAP councillor Payal Sakariya by claiming that she had extorted Rs 11 lakh. The alleged offence occurred at a Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) general body meeting, where both councillors made the allegedly defamatory statements about Sakariya and briefed the media accordingly. Sakariya, who is the leader of the opposition in the SMC, filed a plea in court seeking criminal proceedings against them. Sakariya’s plea, submitted through advocates Kirit Panwala and Ajay Velawala, states that on June 26, 2024, during the incident, the mayor, municipal commissioner, deputy mayor, standing committee chairman and other councillors were present. BJP councillors Dhami and Gediya stated that Sakariya had been extorting money since becoming leader of opposition, specifically claiming that she had extorted Rs 11 lakh. Dhami later accused her of demanding Rs 27 lakh and taking a ‘token’ amount of Rs 11 lakh. After the allegations by Dhami and Gediya, other BJP councillors shouted “11 lakh, 11 lakh”. After the meeting, both accused councillors reiterated their allegations in briefings to media outlets. Gediya allegedly referred to Payal Sakariya in derogatory terms and claimed that she had demanded Rs 27 lakh from 27 households in Town Planning Scheme 11. As these allegations got wide publicity, Sakariya approached the court to initiate criminal proceedings against Dhami and Gediya for defamation, contending that her reputation in society was harmed. The court deemed the case suitable for criminal proceedings under IPC Section 499 and 500, for criminal defamation, against both councillors. It ordered that her complaint be registered as a criminal case and directed that summons be issued to both accused persons. Sakariya also filed a civil suit seeking compensation for defamation in this matter. Surat: A court here ordered the registration of a criminal case against two BJP councillors, Ashok Dhami and Kanu Gediya, for allegedly defaming AAP councillor Payal Sakariya by claiming that she had extorted Rs 11 lakh. The alleged offence occurred at a Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) general body meeting, where both councillors made the allegedly defamatory statements about Sakariya and briefed the media accordingly. Sakariya, who is the leader of the opposition in the SMC, filed a plea in court seeking criminal proceedings against them. Sakariya’s plea, submitted through advocates Kirit Panwala and Ajay Velawala, states that on June 26, 2024, during the incident, the mayor, municipal commissioner, deputy mayor, standing committee chairman and other councillors were present. BJP councillors Dhami and Gediya stated that Sakariya had been extorting money since becoming leader of opposition, specifically claiming that she had extorted Rs 11 lakh. Dhami later accused her of demanding Rs 27 lakh and taking a ‘token’ amount of Rs 11 lakh. After the allegations by Dhami and Gediya, other BJP councillors shouted “11 lakh, 11 lakh”. After the meeting, both accused councillors reiterated their allegations in briefings to media outlets. Gediya allegedly referred to Payal Sakariya in derogatory terms and claimed that she had demanded Rs 27 lakh from 27 households in Town Planning Scheme 11. As these allegations got wide publicity, Sakariya approached the court to initiate criminal proceedings against Dhami and Gediya for defamation, contending that her reputation in society was harmed. The court deemed the case suitable for criminal proceedings under IPC Section 499 and 500, for criminal defamation, against both councillors. It ordered that her complaint be registered as a criminal case and directed that summons be issued to both accused persons. Sakariya also filed a civil suit seeking compensation for defamation in this matter.
