Verma drags 'Outlook' to the court

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today issued notices to Outlook magazine, its Editor Vinod Mehta and journalist Saikat Datta on the defamation suit of Abhishek Verma, the son of former MP Srikant Verma, demanding permanent injunction in publishing defamatory articles against him alleging his involvement in Scorpene submarine deal.

Justice S K Kaul issued notices to the respondents to file their replies on the allegation stating the proof by April 4.

Adjourning the matter till May 24, the court asked the magazine to submit the evidence on the basis of which the article alleging the involvement of Verma in the deal between India and France was written in the issue released between February 14-20.

The article alleged that Verma could be a middleman or facilitator for the French company in the Scorpene Submarine deal entered into between Thales, France and Government of India.

The petition alleged that the magazine in an article titled ''Navy's Bofors'' the journalist had allegedly defamed Verma.

Verma had demanded Rs 25 lakh from the defendents for the damage of his name due to the unsubstantiated and malacious article.

UNI PAT AT GC2045