Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (ANK)
Udupi, Jan 19: The third additional JMFC court here has issued notice to Joel Mathias, Flavia Mathias and Leena Mathias for allegedly defaming Mudrangadi gram panchayat president David D Souza on social media platforms. David D'Souza has sought Rs 1 crore in damages.
On December 18, the court had ordered the police to file an FIR against Joel Mathias, a resident of Kuthyar, and Flavia Mathias, a resident of Pilar, for allegedly defaming David D’Souza on social media.
Acccordingly, the Shirva police had registered FIR (1519/2019) under Information Technology Act against the duo and also begun an investigation in the case.
In his complaint, GP president David D'Souza, who is also a local businessman and Congress party leader, alleged that Joel Mathias and Flavia Mathias had tarnished his and his son Doyson D’Souza’s image, by connecting their names to the suicide case of Fr Mahesh D’Souza, principal of Don Bosco English medium school, Shirva.
The complaint copy mentioned that since the incident of the alleged suicide of Fr Mahesh, both accused were continuously spreading rumours and false allegations about David and his son. The rumours were spread to such extent that they were labelled as rowdy sheeters and were arrested by the police in Fr Mahesh death case.
"Due to the false allegations and rumours in social media, it has severely affected my personal life and has made it hard for me to move in the society. This has defamed my image," David told the court in his statement.
He also said that the accused was an active social activist, hence the rumours coming from him would damage his reputation in the society.
The complaint further stated that earlier too Joel Mathias had been involved in spreading false rumours against David and the accused had later apologised at the police station. But after the death of Fr Mahesh, he continued to spread rumours about David, the latter claimed.