Amitabh Bachchan defaulted on US summons: Separatist Sikh body

Washington, Nov 3: A New York-based Sikh advocacy group has claimed that Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has failed to respond to summons issued by a US court on allegation of human rights violations in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and sought a verdict in absentia against him.

"We have asked Hollywood Federal Court to issue a default judgment against Bachchan because he failed to respond within days after receiving summons as prescribed by the Federal Rules," said attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to Sikh For Justice (SFJ).

"It is our resolve to invoke every provision of international law to hold perpetrators of violence against Sikhs accountable in international forums," he said.

SFJ filed motion for default judgment against Bachchan on October 28 after it said that he did not respond to the Los Angeles Court summons in 1984 anti-Sikh violence case. The group claims that the court motion was duly served to the Bollywood star through proper channel.

In support of its claims, SFJ submitted a communication from Indian Ministry of Law and Justice that acknowledges receipt of summons from US Court for service on Bachchan pursuant to the Hague Service Convention.

PTI