Bhubaneswar: Former DGP Sanjeev Marik on Friday appeared before the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court here in connection with the defamation case filed by him against former police IG and ex-MP Anadi Sahu.
The statement of the former top cop was recorded in the court. Marik told the court that the remarks of Sahoo have brought severe mental agony for him and tarnished his social image.
"It's nothing but a futile attempt to garner cheap publicity. His (Sahoo) statements are completely baseless. I can’t tell you anything more as the matter is sub judice", Marik told media after coming out of the court.
Sahu, who was dragged to court by Marik for his remarks against him, has already been asked by Senior Division Civil Court to present his side on April 5. The court has asked Sahu to appear physically or through an attorney.
Meanwhile, the court posted April 16 as the next date for hearing on the case.
On March 4, Marik had filed a criminal defamation suit for Rs 50 lakh against the former MP after the latter alleged that Marik has close links with gangster brothers Sushil and Sushant Dhalasamant.
Marik filed the case under Section 500, 501 and 502 of the IPC on the grounds that Sahu’s allegation linking him to the gangster siblings had tarnished his reputation.
On February 23, Sahu had alleged that Marik had received Rs 7 crore from arrested criminal siblings. He also alleged that Dhalsamant brothers had taken care of the expenses incurred on the marriage of Marik’s son.
Marik’s stenographer Rabindra Sethi used to take care of the former’s illegal transactions and invest his ill-gotten money in various places, Sahu had stated.