Editor Rajeev Khandekar summoned through Commissioner of Mumbai Police with Bailable Warrant of Rs. 10,000/-
Actor Prasad Vilas Surve has filed a defamation lawsuit against ABP Majha in the Pune District Court and the case is currently pending in court. Prasad Vilas Surve has lodged a defamation claim of Rs. 10 crores against ABP Majha news channel in the Pune District and Sessions Court, seeking compensation & apology from accused ABP Majha. The case has been filed through Adv. Sattyajeet Karale Patil, and a hearing was held on the 1st March 2024. Providing further details, Adv. Sattyajeet Karale Patil stated that the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Maha mandal had filed writ petition in Bombay High Court against the Former Chairman Prasad Surve, along with directors Alka Kubal, Priya Berde, and others, were fined for misappropriation of funds in the Program Manacha Mujra held in Pune. Prasad Surve, who was convicted by the High Court, served as the Chairman of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Maha mandal in 2010. Several newspapers and news channels covered the news of his conviction, including ABP Mazha.
The news channel aired the photo of film actor Prasad Vilas Surve instead of the convicted Prasad Surve, and the erroneous news was broadcasted throughout the day by ABP Majha News.
In response to the lawsuit, Honourable Judge G. R. Dornalpalle, Judicial Magistrate First Class, ordered ABP Maja and Executive Editor Rajiv Khandekar to appear in court on 15/12/2023. Despite representation by their lawyers, no statement was filed in court on behalf of ABP Majha and Rajiv Khandekar. Furthermore, their lawyer and accused Rajiv Khandekar remained absent during subsequent hearings on 24/01/2024, 30/01/2024, and 01/02/2024. Consequently, the court issued a bailable warrant against him for Rs. 10,000/-. The next hearing is scheduled for 10/04/2024.
The case has attracted significant attention in the film and journalism sectors. Counsel for the plaintiff, actor Prasad Vilas Surve, Adv. Sattyajeet Karale Patil, expressed concerns about the future of his client due to ABP Majhaâs misconduct, while providing further details about the case.