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Charges framed against Kesri for defaming RSS

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate R K Gauba today framed charges against former Congress president Sitaram Kesri for defaming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Dismissing Kesri's petition seeking discharge of the case against him, Gauba ruled that the former Congress president had ''deliberately defamed the RSS knowing fully well that it would harm its reputation''.

Addressing the media, Kesri had reportedly stated that the RSS was behind the Coimbatore bomb blasts in which more than 60 people had been killed.

Delhi RSS chief Satyanarain Bansal had filed the criminal defamation suit against Kesri.

Before passing his judgment, Gauba asked Kesri if he pleaded guilty to the charge, to which the latter said, ''I do not plead guilty.''

The case will come up for hearing on January 18 next year.

UNI

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