Defamation case filed against Marathi actress for derogatory post on Sharad Pawar
The Thane police in Maharashtra filed a defamation case against Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale on Saturday (May 14) for allegedly sharing a “derogatory” post on Facebook against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. The post, targeting Pawar shared by the TV and film actress on Friday, was purportedly written by someone else, and is not available on her Facebook page anymore.
NCP leaders have demanded action against the actress, known for her roles in TV shows such as Tuzha Maza Breakup and Aambat God.
The post in Marathi does not make any direct mention of the NCP’s chief’s full name. But it mentionsthe surname Pawar and the age of the person as 80-years-old. The NCP patriarch is 81 years old. The post is full of remarks like “hell is waiting” and “you hate Brahmins”, and allegedly criticises the veteran leader, whose party is in alliance with the Shiv Sena and the Congress in the state
A police official told the media that the offence against Chitale was registered at Kalwa police station in Thane on Saturday. The complaint was lodged by Swapnil Netke, who alleged that the actress posted objectionable content against Pawar, and her post might strain the relationship between the two political parties in the state further and create trouble.
The case against Chitale was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 505 (2) (making, publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes), 153 A (spreading disharmony among people), he said.
Meanwhile, in Pune, the NCP submitted a letter to the police demanding action against Chitale over her post.
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NCP’s Pune city unit president Prashant Jagtap said, “The social media post by Chitale is defamatory. She has defamed Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule in the post. This post may create unrest, which is why we have given a letter to the cyber police, urging them to take action against her.”
The NCP also demanded that the actress be arrested for the post. According to an inspector of the cyber crim police station, the police were in the process of registering a case against the actress after receiving the letter from the NCP.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Housing Development Minister Jitendra Awhad said the youths attached to the NCP will register offences in “at least 100-200” police stations in Maharashtra in connection with the post.
A few NCP leaders felt that the BJP and the RSS were behind these remarks made against Pawar on social media. He said NCP workers will not tolerate such “hideous comments about their leader”.
Awhad told a news channel that those who want to tolerate, will tolerate but they feel uneasy reading something of this sort. “Society will feel uneasy. In Maharashtra, our youth will go to at least 100-200 police stations to register offences. He (Pawar) is the father of the family – that is NCP. He is everything for us and such hideous comments are made about him and that too by a woman!” said Awhad.
Another Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal also demanded that immediate action be taken against the actress.
“Immediate action should be taken. It doesn’t matter if she is an actress, actor or any minister. She has no right to make such a statement,” said Bhujbal.
NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto said the actress has learnt from Maharashtra BJP leaders that the best way to get “cheap and free publicity” is to make derogatory statements against Pawar. “They (BJP leaders) all have tried and failed, this lady will experience the same. Hope God grants her some sensibility,” Crasto tweeted.
The Maharashtra State Women’s Commission (MSWC) too lashed out at Chitale. “That criticism is condemnable. She should not engage in such a criticism,” MSWC chairperson Rupali Chakankar told reporters in Nagpur. While Vidya Chavan, the Maharashtra unit chief of the NCP’s women wing of the NCP, blamed the RSS for youngsters making such comments about Pawar on social media and demanded action against Chitale.
