Thrissur: : The Sub Court issued summons for Anil Akkara to appear on 18th November and answer defamation charges, for having raised unfounded accusation of corruption in state’s free housing project being constructed by Red Crescent for the poor. While this case is criminal in nature and has been admitted by Thrissur CJM court, , there also exists a related civil petition demanding Rs 1 crore in compensation from MLA Anil Akkara for the slander. The petitions have been filed by Minister Moideen.
Apart from Anil Akkara, Mathrubhumi channel anchor Smriti Paruthikkad, Mathrubhumi News channel editor Unni Balakrishnn, Mthrubhumi newspaper publisher and printer MN Raveendran too face charges under section 500 and 34 IPC, in the case. In the petition submitted to court through Adv KB Mohandas, the minister seeks jail and fines for the guilty persons and compensation from the fines levied over the matter.
MLA Anil Akkara had accused Minister AC Moideen of corruption in the LIFE Mission’s flat complex being constructed free by UAE Red Crescent builders in Wadakanchery. The allegation was flaunted as news by Mathrubhumi channel on 15 August 2020 and in its news paper columns on the 14th. And, the minister’s plea for damages to his repute comes against these two news items.
A legal notice in this regard was sent forth by the advocate to the concerned parties earlier. The notice asked the defendants to unconditionally withdraw their defamatory versions and publish/cast corrective news with a prominence equivalent to that lend to their misleading version. The notice further stated that, the defendants will face criminal defamation charges under IPC sec 500 if they failed to reverse their misstatements.
