State Student Congress president Itish Pradhan andniankhunta.com proprietor Pradip Pandey and three regional television channels through their lawyers appeared before the Court of Senior Judge Civil Division in connection with the defamation case filed by city Mayor and BJD leader Ananta Narayan Jena in connection with the controversial sex video purportedly featuring him.
Speaking to the media, Pandey reiterated that nowhere have they mentioned that the person featuring in the controversial video is the Mayor.
“Nowhere we have mentioned that the video features the Mayor. We just leave it on people to identify. Then, how did we defame himIJ” questioned Pandey, who had uploaded the video in his web portal.
Pandey’s counsel Ashok Mahapatra informed the media that he argued in the court that nowhere in the viral video it has defamed the Mayor
“Our second point was that apprehending criminal proceeding against him (Mayor) in the case, he has intentionally filed this defamation case to delay the Rishi Mohanty murder case investigation,” said Mohapatra.
Itish Pradhan after deposing in court demanded before the media that the case be probed by the CBI while the video should be examined at the Central laboratory.
The Mayor’s counsel S Dwivedi told mediapersons that out of the five TV channels named in the petition, three appeared before the court. While Itish Pradhan appeared and sought time for complying with the show-cause, Pradeep Pandey filed his compliance.
On December 16, the Mayor had filed the defamation suit of Rs 1 crore against Pradhan and Pandey and five news channels.
It was informed that the prevailing ban on publishing and telecasting the content of the video is extended till January 3, the date for the next hearing.