Four days after The Quint retracted its story on Kulbhushan Jadhav, a Delhi-based lawyer, Pravesh Dabas, filed a criminal complaint against the online website and its Opinion Editor, Chandan Nandy. The complaint filed under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at the Bawana police station. 

In his complaint, Dabas has stated that in calling Jadhav, a former Naval officer, a RAW agent, Nandy as well as the website have committed a seditious act. He has also stated that the claims made in the article feed into the baseless claims made by Pakistan. It states that the “anti-national article was more on the tune of Pakistan’s version on Sh. Kulbhushan Jhadav and contrary to the claim made by Government of India”. 

In support of his complaint, Dabas has provided six exhibits including photographs of Nandy’s Twitter account containing The Quint’s article on Jadhav as well as photographs of Government of Pakistan’s official Twitter page “sharing and celebrating the seditious article”.

Speaking to Newslaundry, Dabas said that the timing of the story was such that it seriously hampers India’s case in the International Court of Justice and tarnishes India’s image in the international community. He added that he plans to pursue the case. 

With the complaint filed, the police will investigate the matter and evaluate the “merit” of the complaint to file a first information report (FIR). 

Dabas said that in case the police don’t lodge an FIR on his complaint, he will move court. 

Newslaundry reached out to Nandy, who has declined to comment on the matter.