Advocate to be booked for defaming HC judge

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police is gathering evidence to file a criminal case against a former secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association for allegedly posting a “defamatory and demeaning article” against a Delhi high court judge on his personal website.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police is gathering evidence to file a criminal case against a former secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association for allegedly posting a “defamatory and demeaning article” against a Delhi high court judge on his personal website.

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Police said they are in the process of filing a criminal case under the IT Act against Ashok Arora after receiving directions to that effect from the high court on Monday.

According to police, Arora, an advocate, had posted the article on his website www.ashokarora.net on October 17 criticising Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed over his judgment on the case of journalist Shivani Bhatnagar’s murder. Justice Ahmed was part of the division bench which passed its judgment on the case on October 12.

The high court’s direction followed the filing of a writ petition in the matter on Monday, which sought either the removal of the article from the website or blocking it entirely.

“We have received directions from the honourable high court and are investigating the matter. A criminal case will be registered as soon as certain details have been verified,” said Vivek Gogia, additional commissioner of police (EOW).