It seems that the CM has already forgotten the flight delay incident and he is now busy with the monsoon session of the Maharashtra state legislature.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who was upset with the allegations made against him for delaying the Air India flight from Mumbai on June 29 had threatened to file defamation after returning to India. Even though 10 days have passed ever since Fadnavis has returned from the US trip but he has not taken any action in this regard. It seems that the CM has already forgotten the flight delay incident and he is now busy with the monsoon session of the Maharashtra state legislature. Afternoon Voice had published the story ‘Co-passengers defend CM’ on Saturday, July 4 edition.
The monsoon session has begun on a stormy note with the Congress-NCP protesting against the ruling government for the alleged involvement of its ministers Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde in fake degree and Chikki scam respectively.
Netizens had posted some tweets to express their views about the Fadnavis’s post where he had threatened to file defamation case.
meetu jain @meetujain
@Dev_Fadnavis criminal defamation has been stayed in this country. You can only sue anyone for civil defamation @KanchanGupta
Narayan Nedungadi @NarayanNed
@Dev_Fadnavis you will be a hero if you do that. This channel has become a yellow journalism channel.
Nayan @nayanchandra
@Dev_Fadnavis .. weldone.. we screaming for this day & nite dear CM..just clarification dont work..Sue 100cr..damaging ur reputation & party
A journalist spoke to AV on the condition of anonymity and said, “Fadnavis had said that he will file defamation case but he has failed to do so. May be he might be busy with the monsoon session of the state legislature. Let’s wait and watch whether he will take any legal action.”
A controversy had erupted during Fadnavi’s tour following reports that the Air India flight in which he was travelling to New York had to be delayed as Principal Secretary in Chief Ministers’ Office Pravin Pardeshi had forgotten his visa.
Fadnavis had tweeted that he would file for defamation once he was back in the country over the controversy of his delegation delaying the Air India flight from Mumbai to New York on June 29.
“Enough is enough. Once I’m back to India I will initiate proceedings of criminal defamation,” he had tweeted.
He also dubbed the reports against him as “misleading”. “I reiterate, the reports of me delaying flight are misleading. In fact when I’d already boarded, how can I say I won’t travel without delegation?” said Fadnavis on Twitter.
The incident took place June 29 when Fadnavis was leaving on a week-long visit to the US along with his industries Minister Subhash Desai, Chief Secratary Swadheen Kshatriya and Principal Secretary Pravin Pardeshi besides other delegation members.
According to sources, Pardeshi was cleared at the check-in but was held back before boarding as the passport he was carrying did not have the valid US visa.
Sources said that Pardeshi had got a valid US visa in his old passport but this was not reflected in the new one which he was carrying. He quickly arranged to bring his old passport which had valid US visa stamp after which he was allowed to proceed to the aircraft, they said.
Last week, the Oshiwara police registered an FIR against one Ajay Hatewar for tweeting defamatory statements against chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and posting a picture of the CM enjoying a vacation with his family in 2011-2012.
He has been booked for defamation and also under Section 67 (A) of the IT Act.
