Petitioner withdraws defamation complaint against lyricist Javed Akhtar

Case of comparison of RSS with the Taliban

Mumbai – Advocate Santosh Dubey, a staunch supporter of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), had filed a complaint in the Mulund Magistrate’s Court against famous lyricist Javed Akhtar for comparing the RSS with the Taliban during an interview to a news channel. He has withdrawn it now.

Advocate Dubey had applied before the magistrate to withdraw the complaint against Akhtar a few days ago. Both the parties resolved the dispute out of Court by mutual agreement. Therefore, the petitioner did not wish to prosecute Akhtar.

What is the matter ?

Javed Akhtar had said in an interview, “The RSS’s ideology is like that of the Taliban. RSS is misleading and demoralizing citizens.” Advocate Santosh Dubey, a staunch supporter of the RSS, had filed a criminal defamation complaint against Akhtar in the Mulund Magistrate’s Court, alleging that Akhtar’s statement had tarnished RSS’s image in the public mind. Dubey had also said in the complaint that Akhtar had used the RSS’s name unnecessarily for political purposes.