Gujarat daily editor gets 20 days in jail in 1999 defamation case

In 1999, a court in Vadodara sentenced the editor-in-chief of Gujarati daily Sandesh, Falgun Chimanbhai Patel, to 20 days in jail and a fine of Rs 15,000. The ruling came as a result of a criminal defamation case filed by former Vadodara mamlatdar Gambhirsinh Dekare. The court found Patel guilty of publishing a report in the newspaper that contained serious and defamatory allegations against Dekare.

Patel's defence argued that he had no direct involvement in the Vadodara edition of the newspaper and was merely based in the Ahmedabad office. However, the court rejected this claim and held the editor responsible, as Patel's name appeared as the editor of the publication. The court also dismissed Patel's arguments under Sections 499 of the Indian Penal Code, stating that the defence relied on hearsay and that there was no proof that the newspaper copy had been purchased from an authorized vendor.