Privilege committee recommends 10-day jail sentence to editor

Mumbai, Mar 28 (UNI) The Special Privileges Committee of Maharashtra legislative Assembly has recommended a ten-day jail sentence to Editor and Publisher of Kolhapur based weekly 'Sasemira' Madhukar Londhe for publishing ''derogatory remarks'' about Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar.

Committee chief Chandrakant Chhajed tabled the report in the Lower House today.

Mr Chhajed said the editor had published the news without ascertaining facts and made comments to defame the Speaker's image in public. The committee found Londhe guilty of breaching the privilege of the Legislative Assembly.

The committee, however, has not suggested any action against the owner and printer Sanjay Londhe.

The weekly, on November one,2005, had published a news item that Mr Kupekar, who staged a walkout from the house on the issue of providing security to underworld don turned MLA Arun Gawli, will be replaced, Mr Chhajed said.

The notice of breach of privilege against Mr Londhe was given by Leader of opposition Ramdas Kadam and NCP member Shashikant Shinde on November 24, 2005.

UNI