Notwithstanding 'regret', Anna counsel to drag Tewari to court

PUNE: Even as Congress spokesman Manish Tewari on Thursday expressed regret over his remarks against Anna Hazare, the Gandhian's lawyer said a case of defamation would be filed against the Lok Sabha MP in a court here next week.

"We will file a case against Manish Tewari under IPC Section 500 for the defamatory remarks made by him against Hazare on August 14, describing him as a corrupt person at a public forum," advocate Milind Pawar told PTI here.

Pawar, who returned to the city from Delhi last night, said Hazare's secretary had given him a go ahead for filing of the criminal complaint against the Congress MP from Punjab.

Tewari's comments just before Hazare began his fast on August 16 evoked strong reactions from the supporters of the anti-corruption crusader.

The Congress spokesman, who accused Hazare of being "steeped in corruption from head to toe", has not been briefing the media since his personal attack on the 73-year-old Gandhian.

Asked why the matter was being pressed by the Hazare camp even after Tewari publicly expressed regret for his remarks, the lawyer said the acceptance of guilt on his part did not mean that he should go unpunished for his "insolent" utterances against the veteran social activist.