Congress' Jairam Ramesh tenders apology to NSA Ajit Doval's son Vivek in defamation case

In what comes as an embarrassment for Congress, its senior leader Jairam Ramesh has given an apology to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's son Vivek Doval in a defamation case. Vivek Doval had filed a defamation case against former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh for his statement on an article that appeared in  Caravan magazine. article alleged that Doval’s son runs a web of companies to round trip black money, and had established it at time of demonetisation.

On January 21, 2019, Vivek Doval had filed a criminal defamation case against Ramesh and two journalists, contending that y had caused "irreparable dam" to his reputation "through calculated insinuations and innuendos." He had said that Ramesh had run a “malicious campaign" against Doval family. Later, Rouse Avenue court had granted bail to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on a personal bond and surety of ₹20,000 each. w, Jairam Ramesh has apologised and said that he made several allegations against Doval in heat of moment ahead of general elections. 

Vivek Doval on Saturday accepted an apology from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, in connection with a criminal defamation case and expressed his happiness. Speaking to Republic TV, he said, "We are confident that our moral victory today will send a signal that body however high and mighty can stand against power of truth and righteousness. I once again as a proud Indian proclaim Satyameva Jayate. I am extremely happy that we have got a full victory in court."

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Jairam Ramesh's apology letter

"I want to clarify that se statements or accusations were made drawing conclusions from an article that was published previous day in Caravan magazine. As case progressed, I realised that perhaps same independent verification may have been in order.

However, General Elections were close and questions raised in article seemed appropriate for being highlighted in making certain insinuations against you and your family.

Thus, I would like to offer my apologies to you and your family for any hurt statements may have caused. I would also urge INC to remove press conference available on ir website."

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What was case?

On January 16, 2019, Caravan published an article titled - D companies - in which it was alleged that NSA Ajit Doval's son Vivek Doval runs a hedge fund in Cayman Islands and that it was registered 13 days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency tes, in 2016. report said that while NSA advocates a strict crackdown on tax havens, his son allegedly runs an offshore hedge fund. Jairam Ramesh had n issued a press conference on January 17 reiterating  allegations made in article which were termed as "baseless and unfounded facts" by Doval in his defamation plea.

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