Bombay High Court restrains Nawab Malik from public remarks

Minister allowed to file fresh affidavit

The Bombay High Court on Monday quashed and set aside the order refusing to restrain Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik from making defamatory statements against Sameer Wankhede, Narcotics Control Bureau’s zonal director and his family.

A Division Bench of justices SJ Kathawalla and Milind Jadhav recalled the order passed by Justice Madhav Jamdar. This was done after Sameer Wankhede’s father Dhyandev and Mr. Malik consented that the order be recalled. Both the parties agreed that Mr. Wankhede’s grievances against the Minister be heard afresh in an interim application filed by him. Senior advocate Birendra Saraf appearing for Mr. Wankhede told the Bench that the court may record that both parties are consenting to quash the order passed on November 22. The court allowed Mr. Malik to file a fresh affidavit in the interim application in the defamatory suit filed by Mr. Wankhede by December 9. Mr. Wankhede will then file a rejoinder by January 3 and the matter will be heard by the same Bench of justice Madhav Jamdar and completed in 13 weeks, the court directed.

The court directed that Mr. Malik will not make any public statements or use social media against the Wankhedes. Last week, the Bench had said Mr. Malik’s tweets against Mr. Wankhede did seem to be a clear case of malice and logically he should be restrained from making such comments.