The 5th CCH Court, hearing the defamation case filed by IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri (2009 batch) against IPS officer Roopa Moudgil (2009 batch), has suggested that both officials read the book “One Minute Apology” as part of the proceedings. The court has adjourned the case until February 12, 2025.
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On Wednesday evening, both Rohini Sindhuri and Roopa Moudgil, along with their respective spouses—IAS officer Manish Moudgil and Sindhuri’s husband—appeared before the court. Judge Vijay Kumar Jatla instructed all, except the lawyers, to leave the courtroom during the hearing.
During the proceedings, Sindhuri requested an in-camera hearing, which was opposed by Moudgil, citing a Supreme Court ruling against such requests.
Court Suggests Mediation
Judge Vijay Kumar Jatla acknowledged both officers’ contributions to society and encouraged them to resolve the matter amicably, emphasizing that their time is better spent serving the public than engaging in legal disputes. He reiterated the suggestion to read “One Minute Apology” and adjourned the next hearing to February 12.
The Case:
The dispute began on February 18th, 2023 , when Ms. Sindhuri found that Ms. Moudgil had made a series of Facebook posts accusing her of sharing private photographs with fellow IAS officers. This led to a public confrontation, prompting the Karnataka state government to transfer both officers.
In response, IAS Sindhuri sent a legal notice to Ms. Moudgil, demanding an unconditional apology and Rs. 1 crore in damages for the harm to her reputation and the mental distress caused. On March 24th, a Bengaluru court ordered the initiation of a criminal defamation case against Moudgil, who then approached the Karnataka High Court to quash the proceedings. However, the High Court dismissed her plea on August 21, prompting Moudgil to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.
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