Gautam Gambhir files defamations case against Hindi newspaper over 'Bhasmasur' insult, seeks Rs 2 Crore for 'damages'

As technology reached every nook and corner of the world, it has become difficult to differentiate actual news from troll posts. Increasingly both seem to have come a lot closer in the past few years than they used to be.

These days news pieces have deserted the need for unbiasedness and have become full-blown opinion pieces. Many a time you would read a news that would just be someone's opinion dressed as a news piece.

Former India cricketers and current mentor of IPL team Lucknow Super Giants has been engulfed in a similar case of bad journalism. Recently the BJP Member of Parliament has sued a Hindi newspaper accusing it of defamation.

The defamation suit of Rs 2 crore has been laid against Punjab Kesari newspaper's editor Aditya Chopra and correspondents Amit Kumar and Imran Khan for misusing their journalistic freedom against Gambhir.

According to reports, Gambhir has been angered at the newspaper comparing him with the Hindu mythical demon 'Bhasmasur'. Some of the sentences used for Gambhir that he has included in the case are:

Dilli ka lapata Sansad Lucknow Super Giants ke liye bane Bhasmasur (Delhi's missing MP becomes Bhasmasur for Lucknow Super Giants);

Adesh Gupta bolte reh gaye, Gautam Gambhir uth chale (Adesh Gupta kept talking, Gautam Gambhir left)

Sansad Gautam Gambhir lapata gali-gali me lage poster (MP Gautam Gambhir goes missing posters come up in streets);

#Breaking Former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir files a defamation case against hindi newspaper Punjab Kesari.

Gambhir has sued the paper, its editor and a couple of reporters demanding a public apology from them. #DelhiHighCourt @GautamGambhir @punjabkesari pic.twitter.com/TfbAanxhJN

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) May 16, 2023

The suit stated, "It is the respectful case of the Plaintiff that the patterns of these defamatory publications is indicative of a willful campaign launched by the Defendants to lower the reputation and standing of the Plaintiff in the eyes of his constituents, supporters and the public at large. The Defendants undertook no effort to confirm or corroborate the veracity of their publication - which points out their collective malaise against the Plaintiff."

The lawsuit is scheduled to be presented on May 18th before Judge Chandra Dhari Singh wherein Gambhir has asked for Rs 2 Crore to be donated to charitable organisations. The former India team player has also asked for an unconditional apology to be published across all newspapers including digital versions by Punjab Kesari.

Currently, Gambhir is working as a mentor for the IPL team Lucknow Super Giants. The KL Rahul-led team is currently in 3rd with 15 points in 13 matches.