"I Have No Political Ambitions, Why Comment on My Religion?" Salman Khan's Counsel Argues Defamation Case

It is the easiest thing now-a-days to gather some people, get onto social media and vent out all your anger, actor Salman Khan's counsel argued before the City Civil Court at Mumbai in a defamation suit he filed against his Panvel neighbour Ketan Kakkad. The actor highlighted how the defendant's comments and interviews on social media crossed all boundaries of fair comment by even passing remarks on his religion. Additional Sessions Judge Anil H Laddha was hearing Khan's notice of motion seeking directions to injunct Kakkad from posting anything against Khan or his family and take down the objectionable content. The defendant will canvas arguments opposing relief to Khan tomorrow at 2 pm. During Thursday's hearing Advocate Pradeep Gandhi for Khan submitted that Kakkad made "wild and baseless" personal remarks against his client. Kakkad had also wrongly accused the actor of blocking access to his plot situated besides Khan's palatial Panvel farmhouse "Arpita Farms," Gandhi said. The court individually asked both parties if in fact the only route to Kakkad's alleged plot was through Khan's farmhouse. While Kakkad said it was the only route to his 2.65-acre plot, Khan denied the claim. The judge then sought government documents to substantiate the claim. Gandhi read out substantial portions of Kakkad's posts and interviews in which he accused the actor of being "a front for the D Gang," commenting on Khan's religious identity, implying that he was connected to the ruling party at the central and state level, levelling allegations of child trafficking, further alleging that bodies of film stars are buried in Khan's farmhouse. "Without proper proof, all these allegations are a figment of the defendant's imagination.." Gandhi repeatedly argued. "In a property dispute, why are you tarnishing my personal reputation. Why are you bringing in religion?," Gandhi questioned. "My mother is a Hindu, my father is a Muslim and my brothers have married Hindus. We celebrate all festivals." He further argued, "You are an educated person… not a Gunda-chhap to make such allegations. The easiest thing nowadays is to gather some people, get on social media and vent out all your anger." "I have no political aspirations," Gandhi continued referring to allegations of Khan being in connivance with the Prime Minister. "So all Muslims are bad?," Gandhi asked referring to another set of allegations. Gandhi said he was not just seeking an injunction but also seeking for all the defamatory content to be pulled down. Khan has also sought suspension of the social media accounts of Kakkad and other defendants namely Youtuber Sandeep Phogat, Paras Bhat and Ujjwal Narain. Apart from Kakkad and the three other individuals, the other defendants include Facebook Inc, Facebook India Online Services Private Ltd, Twitter Inc, Twitter Communications India Private, Twitter international Company, Youtube LLC, Google LLC and Google India Pvt Ltd. After the counsel appearing for Facebook said that the parent company 'Meta' has to be served, Gandhi said he would do so at the earliest. Gandhi appeared along with Advocate Parag Khandar of DSK Legal.

"I Have No Political Ambitions, Why Comment on My Religion?" Salman Khan's Counsel Argues Defamation Case

Sharmeen Hakim

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