On Monday, the Bombay High Court has deferred the hearing of a defamation suit filed by Bollywood actress Richa Chaddha against two persons including fellow actress Payal Ghosh, internet sensation Kamaal R Khan, and the news channel ABN Andhrajyothy.
The bench headed by Justice AK Menon asked Advocate Saveena Bedi Sachar of LawHive Associates, appearing on behalf of Richa Chaddha, to attempt service of the suit proceedings upon Payal and the others. Subsequently, the court added that it will take up the application in a defamation suit on 7th October for ad-interim relief. The HC further asked for the documents to be reserved on the defendants once again.
“The Defendants have jointly attempted to drag the Plaintiff into the alleged claims against a third person, which is not only false, frivolous and vexatious but has also been done with an intent to cause damage to the immense goodwill that the Plaintiff has acquired as and by way of years of hard work and for the purposes of defaming the Plaintiff’s image and reputation which is very important to the Plaintiff personally and even professionally.
The irreparable loss to the Plaintiff has been and is continuous in terms of the Plaintiff’s defamation and damage to the Plaintiff’s reputation and goodwill for the manifestly defamatory and/or libelous content posted and/or broadcasted by the Defendants Jointly and Severally, without due care and/or sufficient reason to believe that it is true and has subjected the Plaintiff to immense humiliation and ridicule. The Plaintiff has suffered incalculable loss and damage to her reputation as well as suffered tremendous humiliation and stress,” read the suit. She is, therefore, seeking Rs 1.10 crores in damages collectively from the defendants.
Reportedly, Payal Ghosh did an interview with ABN published on its YouTube channel, wherein she mentioned Chaddha’s name in claims of sexual assault against Bollywood film director Anurag Kashyap. Later, this interview was shared and publicized by Kamaal R Khan on his Twitter handle.
Chaddha further claimed that Ghosh subsequently gave interviews to Aaj Tak and website Pinkvilla, once again making defamatory statements against her.
