Vivek Doval's business partner records statement in defamation case against Caravan

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Amit Sharma, the business partner of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval's son Vivek recorded his statement on Monday in connection with the defamation plea filed against 'The Caravan' magazine.

Vivek had filed a plea against the magazine for an alleged defamatory article published and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh for using content from the article.

In his statement, Sharma said, "I know Vivek Doval (complainant) since 2004 when we both were semiconductor analyst at different banks. I was at Deutsche Bank and Vivek was at Bear Stearn Bank. Since then we became friends and had been in regular contact."

"Later, Vivek and I discussed stock ideas very regularly and got along very well over the course of the next several years," he noted.

"In 2012, when Boyer Allen shut down. Vivek was looking for what to do next. This is when we came up with the idea of the launching of a fund together," Sharma said.

This development came to light after Vivek on January 30 recorded his statement before the same court.

Vivek asserted that all charges made against him were "baseless and false" and references were made in "a demeaning manner" without trying to "ascertain the facts."

He had recorded his statement before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal.

"I was livid after reading the article published about me in a magazine and the manner in which the events were narrated. My family was referred to as D-Companies whereas we all know that in our country the D-Company refers to Dawood Ibrahim, a known criminal, who figures in the most wanted list," he told the court.

"Questions were also raised on the integrity of my family, especially my father who has dedicated his life to the service of the nation and fighting against Dawood," Vivek further said.

Vivek, who obtained CFA from the US in 2006 and did CAIA from CAIA institute in 2010, said: "Allegations were levied about money laundering and converting the black money into white, without there being any basis."

"It was written that Rs 8,300 crore of black money has been round tripped to India thereby tarnishing my career and my venture GNY Asia Fund," he stated.

Calling himself a proud Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and citizen of the UK, Doval also asserted that "the article branded him and his family as anti-national."

Stating that Jairam Ramesh, a former Union Minister, had used the platform of the Indian National Congress (INC) to propagate these charges, he said: "There were many derogatory comments spoken which raised numerous questions on the integrity of my family."

"Unpleasantness was bestowed upon me and my family based on falsehood and mala-fide. Without trying to ascertain facts, references were made in a demeaning manner," he said.

He also claimed that the repercussions of the article and press conference questioned his professional integrity, which is of critical importance for his career.

" It has questioned my social standing as a fund manager. If I have dubious integrity, my career is over as a Fund manager."

On January 21, Vivek had filed a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and two journalists, contending that they had caused "irreparable damage" to his reputation "through calculated insinuations and innuendos."

Vivek has contended that Ramesh and the two journalists "have committed the offence of defamation punishable under Section 500 of IPC (which provides for simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both) read with Section 120-B IPC (criminal conspiracy).