Mumbai: Sameer Wankhede's father files contempt petition against Nawab Malik before Bombay HC

MUMBAI: Dnyandev Wankhede, 72, father of former NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede on Wednesday filed a contempt petition against Maharashtra cabinet minister Nawab Malik, 62, claiming wilful breach by him of his undertaking given on December 7, 2021, to the Bombay high court of not making or posting any defamatory comments against the Wankhede family.
Wankhede is a retired government official and was working as the senior police inspector of the state excise department at the time of his retirement in June 2007.He had filed a suit last year to restrain Malik from making and posting defamatory and derogatory comments about him and his son and family.
Malik belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party of which he is the national spokesperson and president of the Mumbai unit. Malik is the minority development minister of Maharashtra.
Wankhede said in his applicationt that Malik had last “tendered an unconditional apology by way of affidavit dated 10th December, 2021" and that the HC was pleased to accept the said unconditional apology by its order dated 10th December, 2021." He said that however breached the order as recently as January 2 and 3.
His petition, which is yet to be heard said, “Despite the undertaking given to this court recorded vide orders dated 25th November, 2021 and 29th November, 2021, the respondent continued in early December, 2021 to make public statements against the petitioner and/or his family members." The HC had on December 7 found that prima facie such statements were in willful breach of the undertaking and Malik had tendered his apology.

His petition cited certain remarks made by Malik and said, “It is abundantly clear that the respondent by making the aforesaid public statements at paragraph 5(o)(i) to (iii) hereinabove, against the petitioner and/or his family members, in particular the actions/omissions of the petitioner’s son, targeting the latter’s caste/religion as well as his personal integrity, the respondent has deliberately and wilfully breached the statement made by the respondent and accepted by this Hon’ble Court as an undertaking

vide

its Orders dated 25th November, 2021 and 29th November, 2021."
Wankhede sought orders to hold Malik in contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.