A Raver taluka court in north Maharashtra on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against noted anti-corruption activist and erstwhile AAP leader Anjali Damania, based on a defamation case filed by a political activist for allegedly defaming senior BJP leader and former Minister Eknath Khadse.
While hearing a defamation case filed by the BJP’s local unit president Sunil Patil, Raver taluka judge D G Malaviya issued the arrest warrant under sections 500 (Punishment for defamation) and 501 ( printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory and directed the Santacruz Police in Mumbai to execute the warrant on Damania.
Judge Malaviya issued arrest warrant against Damania had failed to appear before his court, despite repeated summons issued to her in the defamation case heard by him.
The arrest warrant issued by the Raver court was in connection with one of the 11 defamation cases filed by Khadse’s supporters in the taluka courts of Muktainagar, Bhusaval, Raver, Yaval, Jalgaon, Dharangaon, Chopda, Amalner, Chalisgaon, Bhadgaon and Pachora in the BJP leader’s home district of Jalgaon in north Maharashtra in July 2016 for allegedly defaming their leader.
Reacting to the development, Damania tweeted: “ I have heard through the media that an arrest warrant has been issued against me by Raver Court. I am a law abiding citizen. I clarify... a) I have not got ANY SUMMON from Raver Court b) I have no idea about this defamation case filed by a Khadse supporter”.
Damania had made many allegations against Khadse in July last year. The allegations made by her included the alleged nexus nexus between Khadse and Karachi-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, alleged irregularities in the purchase of a plot of land.