Shillong, April 11: Assembly Deputy Speaker Thomas D Shira on Friday appeared before the Court of Chief Justice Magistrate, Shillong and give his statement for examination in regards to a case filed against two youtubers for allegedly spreading wrong information regarding the speech he had made during the discussion in Assembly on developing Tura as the winter capital of the state.
Speaking to reporters, his legal counsel Sujit Dey said, “Today, the deputy speaker has given his statement under section 323 of BNSS and his statement has been recorded and now the court will examine it.”
“In the criminal proceeding, his statement will be examined and the court will issue process if it is satisfied that there is defamation against my client,” he added.
Dey said, “There are two cases (being filed by the deputy speaker) – one is criminal and one is civil. Today, we are talking about the criminal case. Earlier, it was the civil case where we are claiming compensation for defaming my client. In that civil defamation, we have demanded Rs 100 crore from each of the two respondents.”
Asked if there is a possibility for settling the matter out of court, the deputy speaker however maintained that there will be no compromise since the two social media users have shown no remorse or regret of their action.
“They (social media users) don’t have any remorse, (there is) no regrets from them. So how can we come to a compromise? There will be no compromise. It has damaged my image so much that I have to think twice-thrice to come to a compromise. For that I may not be able to come to a compromise also,” he stated clearly.
In addition, Dey said, “It has not only defamed my client but it has also defamed his entire family…”
“Everyone has the right in giving their own opinion in different matters that come up for discussion in the social media platform but without hurting or defaming someone anyone can say anything but not by defaming someone,” he asserted.
