Boxers set to spar in court in defamation case

Boxers exchanging blows inside the ring is common sight but perhaps for the first time in India, two boxers would be seen sparring inside the court room after former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Akhil Kumar filed a criminal complaint of defamation against fellow pugilist Dilbag Singh.
The case, filed under section 499 and section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, was initiated by Akhil after Dilbag accused him of "manipulating" and "rigging" the selection for last year's World Championships.
Dilbag, who lost to Akhil's prodigy Mandeep Jangra in the trials held in Patiala last August, had accused Akhil of bribing the selection committee to favour Jangra.

A furious Akhil demanded an apology, which Dilbag refused to tender despite being served a legal notice.
Now Akhil, a former Olympic quarterfinalist besides being a World Cup bronze-medallist, has initiated legal proceedings against Dilbag, a former national champion, at the District Court in Chandigarh.
Dilbag had been show-caused by the national federation and forced to tender an apology, after much defiance, for making similar allegations against national coach G S Sandhu and the selection committee.
"I had initiated the steps to sue him at that time itself but I was waiting for the legal process to start after giving him six months time to tender an apology," Akhil said.

"I was very clear that I would not let the issue just pass like that because he had sullied my reputation," he added.