Ravindra Jadeja files defamation suit of Rs 51 crore against Rajkot newspaper

Ravindra Jadeja

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has filed a suit against the editor of an evening newspaper which is based in Rajkot for defamation. The 26-year-old has demanded Rs 51 crores for the damage endured.

Satish Mehta, editor and owner of ‘Aabtak’ has been issued a summons by principal senior civil judge P B Parmar, asking him to attend sessions in court on February 4.

The suit reveals that the newspaper had carried a report, on 20 November, 2014, that Jadeja and his business partner Jenesih Ajmera had contacts with Bali Dangar, who is facing charges of land grabbing and extortion.

Jadeja’s lawyer, Hiren Bhatt, confirmed the news of them moving to court against the daily, adding that his client had absolutely no contact with Dangar and also that Ajmera is not Jadeja’s business partner.

"The paper had published the news without verifying it and the news has damaged the reputation of my client. Jadeja has no links or has never met Dangar in his life. The newspaper says that Ajmera is Jadeja's partner in the restaurant, which is wrong. Ajmera is not his partner in any business,” Bhatt said.

“We had to move the court after we failed to get response to legal notices sent to the editor,” he added.

Jadeja is currently nursing a shoulder injury ahead of the Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand starting next month.