HC turns tables on Nirmal Baba in libel case

A defamation suit filed by self-proclaimed godman Nirmal Baba against a media portal seems to have backfired on him.

A defamation suit filed by self-proclaimed godman Nirmal Baba against a media portal seems to have backfired on him.

While hearing a plea by Nirmaljit Singh Narula, popularly known as Nirmal Baba, demanding removal of ‘ defamatory’ articles from the website and Rs 21 lakh as damages, the Delhi high court on Wednesday sought the response of the vernacular media portal — bhadas4media — in the case.

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Justice Kailash Gambhir, however, also asked Nirmal Baba to file copies of complaints and FIRs registered against him to judge as to whether the articles are defamatory or not.

“The plaintiff is directed to place on record the copy of complaints and FIRs against him. In the meantime, summons of the suit and the notice be sent to respondents (bhadas4media and Yashwant Singh) returnable on May 30,” the court said.

Baba, who has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons, had moved court seeking directions to stop the Hindi portal from publishing defamatory articles.

“Around 30 TV channels show programmes of Nirmal Baba who has 3.7 lakh followers on Facebook. Such write-ups have defamed him," his petition said.