Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday sought an apology from Vivek Doval, son of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in a 2019 defamation case. Vivek Doval has accepted Jairam Ramesh’s apology in the defamation case.
Vivek Doval had filed a criminal defamation case against Ramesh and Caravan magazine Editor-in-Chief Paresh Nath and reporter Kaushal Shroff for damaging his reputation. The Caravan article titled `The D Companies` had allegedly claimed that Vivek Doval ran a hedge fund whose promoters were of dubious antecedents.
In his statement, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said he gave the statement against Vivek Doval in the heat of the moment as it was the time of the elections. “I gave the statement against Vivek Doval and made several allegations in heat of the moment as it was the time of elections,” Jairam Ramesh said.
Clarifying on it, he said his remarks were based on a news article and said some independent verification of the facts may have been in order. “I may have gone overboard in making certain insinuations against you and your family,” Jairam Ramesh said.
“Thus, I would like to offer my apologies to you and your family for any hurt the statements have caused. I would also urge the INC to remove the press releases available on their website,” Jairam Ramesh said.
Speaking with ANI, Vivek Doval said he has accepted Jairam Ramesh’s apology. “Jairam Ramesh has given an apology, and we have accepted it. The criminal defamation case against Caravan magazine will continue,” Vivek Doval said.
While the defamation case against Jairam Ramesh has officially been closed, the case against the magazine will continue before a different judge now. Till now, the case was heard before a special fast track court for MP/MLAs. Now it will go before a regular magistrate court.
However, Vivek Doval accepted the apology tendered by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in connection with a criminal defamation case filed by him against Ramesh and Caravan magazine for their alleged defamatory statement and articles.
