Mumbai: Underworld gangster Ejaz Lakdawala has objected to being associated with the drug cartel. The gangster has filed a criminal defamation case against the makers of the web series- Aashram, as, in one of the scenes gangster’s photo is used as a man behind the drug cartel. The magistrate court has issued notice to all the respondents, including producer Prakash Jha.
Criminal Defamation Complaint Filed Against Prakash Jha, Writer Habib Faisal & Others
Lakdawala had on April 9 approached the Metropolitan magistrate court, Bhoiwada, against eight person,s including Jha, Habib Faisal (writer of the web series), the team of screenplay writer and MXP Media. The magistrate court has now issued notice to the respondents to appear by July 31.
The gangster has, in his complaint, claimed that, in Season 3, Part 2, Episode 5, there is a courtroom scene. In the said scene, a lawyer presents certain documents before the judge, saying “Drug Cartel aur mafia se transaction ka report”, allegedly showing drug transaction reports involving the mafia.
In the said scene, Lakdawala claimed that, ‘a photograph of the complainant is visibly affixed on one of the documents, falsely associating him with drug cartel and mafia-related activities.’
Objecting to the said scene, Lakdawala claimed that he ‘has never been involved in drug transactions or drug-related offences, and the depiction of his image in such a context is false, defamatory, and has tarnished his reputation in society.’
“It is further submitted that the photograph has been unlawfully obtained without obtaining his prior consent or permission. Such unauthorised use amounts to a violation of the complainant’s right to privacy and personality rights, and appears to have been done with the intent to gain viewership or commercial benefit, thereby causing mental agony and reputational harm to the complainant,” reads the complaint.
