Lokayukta lambasts 'corrupt' Delhi BJP MLA who filed defamation suits against media <table style="width: 143px; height: 42px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="143" align="right" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img alt="" src="/imagedata/2010/jul/Lokyukta.jpg" border="3" /></td></tr> <tr> <td> Media shy: Anil Jha 'Vats' has accused his detractors of defaming him.</td></tr></tbody></table>He had been elected a lawmaker by the masses but when the media reported his alleged lawless ways he moved court. However, it did not go down well with Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin, who took on BJP MLA from Kirari, Anil Jha 'Vatsa', for over-reaching his constitutional brief. In scathing remarks against Jha, who filed defamation suits against newspapers that reported how allegedly he misused his official position to intimidate people and extort money from them, Justice Sarin said an MLA is a public personality and he should forget it. "The reports published by the media were not fictitious. They only reported the proceedings of the court and they are allowed to report the judicial proceedings. The newspapers reported the complaint filed by the complainant before the Lokayukta and the action taken by the Lokayukta against the complaint," Justice Sarin observed. "As an MLA you should be ready to wear garlands of flowers as well as those of shoes," Justice Sarin said. In the defamatory suits filed against some newspapers, the legislator from Kirari in northwest Delhi had alleged that the media had portrayed him like the "Taliban". The chief of the resident's welfare association (RWA) of Kirari had alleged, in a complaint to the Lokayukta, that Jha had been abusing his position for financial gains. Bhagwan Sharma, the RWA chief, also levelled charges of extorting money against Jha and submitted two CDs and a list of witnesses as proof to the Lokayukta. After media reported the matter, Delhi Lokayukta issued notice to the MLA for allegedly extorting money from the residents of his constituency and for taking illicit gratification for discharging his duties as a public functionary. In his reply to the notice, Jha had submitted before the Lokayukta that all the allegations against him baseless. "The allegations leveled against me are politically motivated, misconceived, actuated with malafide intention to malign and damage my political career," said Jha. He also rejected allegations that he was running a parallel administration through his own 'Council of Ministers' which function as mediators to achieve his corrupt and ulterior motives. "It is submitted that the complainant himself is actively involved in various nefarious activities, with the help of his supporters to claim his candidature in the next assembly election from his party," read the reply filed by Jha. Justice Sarin said, "There are serious offences against Anil Jha 'Vatsa' and if these allegations are true then it's shameful but if charges are proved false, malicious and politically motivated then action will be taken against the complainant." Justice Sarin directed the complainant Sharma to file the documents related to his complaint within 15 days. The next date of hearing in the case is September 1. Chargesheet Bhagwan Sharma, Managing Director of Shiva Credit and Thrift Cooperative Society Limited, alleged that Anil Jha 'Vatsa' had demanded Rs 1 lakh and a window air conditioner from him. "Somewhere in mid July 2009 at about 5 PM, the MLA along with three-four people came to my office and threatened my of dire consequences, if I would not pay up. Jha also got a false complaint registered against me with the Registrar of Co-Operative Societies," Sharma alleged in his complaint to the Lokayukta. Bhagwan Sharma submitted before the Lokayukta: "Jha is also running a parallel administration through his own council of ministers which functions as a mediator to achieve his corrupt and ulterior motives."

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Lokayukta lambasts 'corrupt' Delhi BJP MLA who filed defamation suits against media

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