Date:09/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/09/stories/2004080905200400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Five convicted in defamation case

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG. 8. The first class Additional Judicial Magistrate, Bhongir, Madhusudhan Rao, convicted five senior Forest Department officers, including the general secretary of AP Forest Range Officers' Association, K. Bal Reddy, of defamation and sentenced them to undergo one-month imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs. 500 each recently. However, execution of the sentence was suspended up to August 9.

The former deputy conservator of forests, social forestry division, Nalgonda district, V.V. Rajam, had filed a defamation case against the five officials -- T. Bhashya Karulu, I. Vijay Kumar, P. Harinath Rao, G. Shankaraiah and Bal Reddy -- alleging that they had made false allegations against him with a view to damaging his reputation.