Delhi Court summons singer Mika in defamation suit filed by doctor

New Delhi, Jan 28: A Delhi court has summoned popular singer Mika Singh in a defamation suit filed by a doctor seeking Rs 50 lakh as damage for allegedly slapping him and tarnishing his image at a programme here organised by medical practitioners.

Additional District Judge D K Jangala issued summons to Amrik Singh alias Mika for January 30 on the suit filed by Dr Srikanth, an ophthalmologist at Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital here, alleging that the singer had slapped him during a live concert coordinated by the Delhi Ophthalmological Society as part of its three-day conference.

The court, which had summoned Singh earlier also, was informed that the summon was returned unserved with a report that the singer's sister told the official that he was not available at home.

"In view of report, issue fresh summons of the suit to the defendant (Singh)... Defendant be also served by way of affixation, in case of non availability/refusal/premises found locked. Put up on January 30," the judge said.

In the suit filed through advocates Ahmad Shahrooz and Rajesh Kumar, the doctor said that on April 11, 2015, he was dancing at the venue but Singh without any reason started pointing fingers at him from the stage and asked him to move aside allegedly in a rude manner using abusive language.

He alleged that when the plaintiff did not pay heed to Singh's "dictatorship and unparliamentary and abusive language", the defendant got angry and directed his bouncers to drag the doctor to the stage.

"On instructions of the defendant, two of his bouncers came down, at once, and dragged the plaintiff to the stage by grabbing his collar. He kept on pleading to leave him" and not treat him with "such brutality", but to no avail, the suit alleged.

It further alleged that Singh slapped the doctor on his left ear which led to bleeding in his ear drum on the stage, knowing fully well that the entire crowd was witnessing the incident.

"Shocked and surprised by the illegal and unlawful act of the defendant, the plaintiff felt very hurt, anguished, humiliated and embarrassed as the whole crowd gathered at the venue, most of them were his colleagues and friends and knew him very well being a doctor and they were looking at the plaintiff which was very shameful and disgraceful for the plaintiff as if the plaintiff had indeed done something wrong, objectionable and offensive," the doctor said in his plea.

A criminal case was also lodged against Mika by Srikanth at Inder Puri Police Station here for alleged offences of causing hurt and wrongful restraint under the IPC.

The suit also said the video of the incident was uploaded on nnternet and news was published in various newspapers, with the doctor claiming that the singer approached the media with a "false and concocted version" of the incident.

After the incident, Mika had alleged that the doctor was drunk and had misbehaved with women and kids and showed him the middle finger which was denied by the plaintiff.

The doctor sought Rs 50 lakh as damages for loss caused to his reputation and image and decree of mandatory injunction directing Singh to issue an unconditional apology to him.

He also sought a decree of permanent injunction restraining Singh from making any derogatory and defamatory remarks and statement against the doctor in the media.

PTI