Srinagar, Feb 22: A local court in Srinagar has restrained media houses and social media platforms from publishing any defamatory news against District President of J&K Football Association (JKFA), Fayaz Ahmad Sofi in an alleged corruption scam, for which investigations are being conducted by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), till further orders.
The court of City Judge/Sub Judge Srinagar in a suit filed by Sofi for permanent and prohibitory and mandatory injunction against some media houses and social media platforms, including managing Director/ CEO, Facebook Inc, India has found that the applicant has prima-facie case on the basis of his pleadings read in the light of documents annexed with the plaint, giving rise to the adjucation of the Court.
“Balance of convenience prima-facie seems to be in favour of granting the relief and if the relief which the applicant requests for is not granted, the applicant will suffer irreparable loss,” the Court of City Judge/Sub Judge Srinagar Sajjad-ur-Rehman observed.
It directed the defendants to restrain from publishing, republishing, posting, carrying out any defamatory posts through electronic or print media against the plaintiff till next date of hearing.
The court order comes in the backdrop of ACB FIR against the officials of JKFA for alleged misappropriation of government funds.
“As the ACB is investigating the matter and is yet to even conclude the investigation in the matter, certain persons are adamant to assassinate the character of plaintiff by conducting media trials. It is clear that the broadcast on the social media platforms of the matter under investigation is extremely delicate in nature, as it brings the investigation into jeopardy and dilutes the process of fair trial and investigation,” the plaintiff prayed.
“The allegations which are impugned against the plaintiff are yet to be substantiated by evidence which that the defendants (media houses) have colluded to assassinate the character of plaintiff while making insinuations bereft of any evidences….. The credibility built by the plaintiff over a long period of time is shattered to false, frivolous and baseless allegations made by the defendants,” he further prayed.
Keeping in view the prayer of the plaintiff, the court has restrained media houses and social media platforms from publishing any defamatory news against Fayaz Ahmad Sofi. It is pertinent to mention here that Sofi has served game of football for the last more than two decades and his contributions in uplifting the standard of football in Kashmir, especially Srinagar, are immense.
