UNNIKRISHNAN ANCHERY Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Criminal Petition No.2045 of 2016 is filed by A3 to A5 and Criminal Petition No.2314 of 2016 is filed by A1, A2, A6 to A8 seeking to quash proceedings in C.C.No.2 of 2016 on the file of Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Hyderabad filed against the petitioners for the offences under Ss. 500, 501 & 120-B of IPC.

(2.) The Special Public Prosecutor appointed by the Government, filed a private complaint against A1/Outlook Publishing (India) Private Limited and the other accused 2 to 8 for defaming the public servant namely Smt. Smita Sabharwal, I.A.S, who was working as Additional Secretary to Chief Minister, Government of Telangana. The defamatory publication was dtd. 6/7/2015 issue in Outlook English weekly magazine under the column 'DEEP THROAT' along with a multi-coloured Caricature as a Box item. The publication reads as follows:

(3.) According to the complaint, A2 was printer and publisher of the magazine of the Outlook. A3 to A5 are directors of A1 company, who are responsible for the conduct of day to day management of A1 company. A6 is the Editor, A7 is the person who has drawn the caricature and A8 is the Assistant Editor of Outlook at Hyderabad, who contributed the defamatory publication.