Defamation case: court moves to frame charges against ex-Maha

A local court today proceeded to frame charges against former Maharashtra minister Suresh Jain after finding him "prima-facie" accused of defaming anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare in 2003.
"Considering the contents of publication against complainant (Hazare) and taking all these facts together, I find sufficient material to proceed against the accused (Jain).
"The complainant has made out a prima-facie case against the accused under section 500 of IPC (punishment for defamation). Therefore, I proceed to frame charge against the accused under the said section," S S Bangad, Judicial Magistrate (First Class) stated in his order.
Hazare had filed the defamation case against Jain, former Food and Civil Supplies Minister, in 2003 alleging that the latter had termed him as the "most corrupt" person during a press conference.

Hazare, who had then launched a campaign against corruption, had accused Jain of graft.
Jain, a former MLA from Jalgaon in North Maharashtra, is currently lodged in jail in connection with the 2006 Gharkul Housing Scheme scam.

Jain had alleged that Hazare had misappropriated funds under the guise of his Hind Swaraj Trust.
Hazare's counsel Milind Pawar said the court has examined seven witnesses, including five journalists, in the present case and the statement of Hazare too was recorded.
The court also examined the cuttings of several newspapers in which news of Jain's press conference had appeared and, after examining the journalists from various newspapers, the court had found that Jain is "prima-facie" accused of defamation.

The next hearing is posted on March 28.