BeyondHeadlines Special Correspondent
PUNE: Former Pune Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol on Monday slapped Rs 100 crore defamation notice to journalist Ashish Khetan for making wild allegations against him in a story published in Outlook magazine. Pol charged Khetan for publishing a slanderous story involving his name stating that it was done with a malicious intent.
On Monday, Pol and his lawyer Harshad Nimbalkar held a press conference at Pune Union Working Journalist hall in Navi Peth. The ten page notice signed by Pol and Nimbalkar, has been addressed to the magazine editor and Khetan.
Denying the allegations against him in the story, Pol said, “I am a rationalist and do not personally practice such superstitious beliefs. Dr. Dabholkar was one of the best persons whom I knew for past ten years. And this case was a challenge before me. When I took charge, there was blast and in same month Dr. Dabholkar was murdered. I had full faith in my policemen and for more resources I came into contact with former police officers who too assured help. For cracking the case and I did use their expertise but never took recourse to witchcraft,” he added.
Pol’s lawyer Nimbalkar said, “We have issued a legal notice to the magazine and have given them two weeks time to reply. If the reply is unsatisfactory, we will lodge a criminal case with the police as and a civil suit against the editor and the journalist. Pol wants a written apology printed in the magazine and in other print media where such reports were published and also a compensation of Rs 100 crores.”
Ashish Khetan when contacted by the media said, “So far I have not received any notice. Once I get it, I will reply. I have got the evidence to my article and for truth to come out I am ready to face any test and can even approach court. I have full faith in judiciary”
