A magistrate court in Mumbai on Monday closed defamation proceedings against former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik after BJP functionary Mohit Kamboj voluntarily withdrew his 2021 complaint.
The court observed, “The accused stands acquitted of the offence under IPC Section 500 (defamation) and the proceeding is hereby closed,” following Kamboj’s application seeking withdrawal of the case under Section 257 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The provision permits complainants to withdraw their cases before the final order, subject to the magistrate’s satisfaction.
In his application, Kamboj cited logistical reasons, stating, “Since this court is desirous of keeping the said case on a day-to-day basis, I am desirous to withdraw the case filed against the accused as I will be unable to attend the court on a daily basis.” He further affirmed that the decision was made voluntarily without any external pressure.
The defamation complaint, filed in 2021, stemmed from remarks made by Malik following the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raid on a cruise ship in October that year. Kamboj had alleged that Malik deliberately defamed him and his brother-in-law, Rishab Sachdev, during a press conference addressing the arrests made in the high-profile drug case involving actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan.
Kamboj had sought legal action under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, accusing Malik of making “purposeful and intentional” defamatory statements.
With the withdrawal now accepted, Malik stands legally acquitted of all defamation charges in the case.
