Paternity row: Tiwari brushes off demand for DNA test

New Delhi, Jul 22: Veteran Congress leader N D Tiwari, appearing before the Delhi High Court on Thursday, stuck to his stand of not giving his blood sample for a DNA test in a paternity suit filed by a 31-year-old man claiming to be his biological son.

Filing a personal affidavit before Justice Gita Mittal, the former Andhra Pradesh governor stated that he was not willing to give his blood sample for the DNA test.

After perusal of the affidavit, the court asked Tiwari's counsel "Don't you think that DNA test will vindicate completely your stand that you have not sired the plaintiff?"

"I achieved unblemished public career which justifies me to contest against the plaintiff who is bent upon tarnishing my public image by bringing false cause and even unwarranted contempt petition so as to get undue publicity in print as well as electronic media," Tiwari stated in his affidavit.

"In order to preserve, protect and defend my personal dignity attained by my long cherished service to the nation as well as Indian society, I being a senior citizen too, I am not willing to give my blood sample for DNA testing. Hence, I may not be compelled to do so," says Tiwari's affidavit.

Earlier, the court had slammed the leader for filing his affidavit through a lawyer contending that no person could be compelled to give a blood sample for DNA test.

PTI