Chandigarh, Dec 03: A local court today framed charges against Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in a criminal defamation case filed against him by his predecessor and Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal and fixed January 31 as the next date of hearing in the case. While issuing a notice of accusation to the Punjab Chief Minister, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) C L Mohal observed that the court had reason to believe that Amarinder Singh had from September four, 2001 got published advertisements and news items in various newspapers with intention to harm the reputation of the complainant (Badal).
"You (Amarinder), thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 500 (defamation) of the IPC," the judge observed.
Pleading not guilty, the Punjab Chief Minister, who was present in the court, said that he wanted to face trial in the case as charges against him were baseless.
The judge also fixed January 31 directing Singh to present evidence to support his claim and for the consideration of the application moved by Badal regarding alleged misconduct of Singh against him after the case was filed.
The court gave exemption to Badal from personal appearance as he was lodged in a Patiala jail.
Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal, a Rajya Sabha member had filed civil and criminal defamation suits against Amarinder Singh in August following the latter's accusations against the former regarding amassing properties worth Rs 35,000 crore in and outside the country during Badal's regime between 1997- 2002. Bureau Report