Warrant against Swami Madhavashram Saraswati

Jabalpur, Mar 27 (UNI) A local court has issued a bailable warrant against Uttaranchal's Swami Madhavashram Saraswati for levelling an insulting comment at Badrinath Jyotishpeeth and Dwarka Shardapeeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati.

Judicial Magistrate A C Tiwari heard a defamation suit filed by social activist Anita Tiwari, a Jhijhautia brahman, and directed Swami Madhavashram to be present before the bench on May 9.

The petitioner had said a VCD was available of the comment made on June 20, 2005 by Swami Madhavashram, a ''self-styled'' Shankaracharya.

''In a press conference, Swami Madhavashram targeted Swami Swaroopanand, who is a Jhijhautia brahman, and made an allegation -- against the entire brahman community -- that comes within the purview of defamation,'' said petitioner's Counsel H S Dubey.

The Akhil Bharatiya Ubhay Bharti Mahila Ashram Sangathan demanded stern action against the accused.

''The comment also constituted an insult to womanhood,'' alleged Ubhay Bharti Mahila Ashram Secretary Kalyani Pandey while announcing a nation-level agitation.

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