Official to sue Goa legislator for defamation

The Goa government has permitted a state official to file a suit against a legislator for "defamatory comments" made by the latter.

The mamlatdar (an administrative position that is referred to as tehsildar in northern India) of Pernem, C. Shetgaonkar, told IANS that the state administration Thursday granted him permission to move ahead with the suit.

"I don't want to say much. But I have been granted permission to file a criminal suit. It will be a private complaint," Shetgaonkar said.

During the assembly session in April, Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal had moved a privilege motion against Shetgaonkar, who he claimed had insulted him during an altercation.

Sawal also alleged that the official was harassing him. Shetgaonkar's counsel has claimed that the charges made in public by the legislator were defamatory.

When contacted, the Independent legislator said: "I am confident about what I said."