A police complaint has been filed at Lalbazar police station in Kolkata on Thursday (December 18) by CAB Chief and former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly. The 52-year-old has filed a Rs 50 crore defamation suit against Uttam Saha, President of Argentina Fan Club in Kolkata.
Ganguly's complaint mentions that he was wrongly dragged into the disastrous events at Salt Lake Stadium during World Cup winner Lionel Messi's visit on December 13. Ganguly’s complaint stems from malicious and false statements damaging his reputation. Saha had alleged that Ganguly was the middle man of the arrested event organiser Satradru Dutta.
The complaint states that “false, malicious, scandalous and defamatory imputations” were made against Ganguly intentionally to malign the former Indian cricket team captain who says he was a mere spectator at the at the stadium on Saturday. Ganguly walked out of the stadium in disappointment as angry fans started spilling onto the football field and vandalising the stadium property.
Messi was at the stadium for less than half an hour and walked out after being surrounded by VIPs and other people in the centre of the field. Meanwhile, football fans, who had paid money to watch the football legend, were unable to see their icon.
The complaint further states the remarks are imputing dishonesty, corrupt motives, improper patronage, misuse of influence in sport administration and other materially false allegations, that have gravely harmed Ganguly's reputation and mental peace.
In the complaint, Ganguly stated, “Serious allegations are being made publicly without any factual basis.”
The complaint has been filed under Section 356 (defamation) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The FIR also suggests that the Information Technology Act, 2000 and Rules framed there under (including but not limited to Section 79 and Section 69 and applicable IT Rules and intermediary guidelines) should be considered while further investigating the case.
