Bollywood Star to Sue Canadian Newspaper

Friday, August 13, 2004

Bollywood film star Sanjay Dutt is considering legal action against the Canadian newspaper, The Calgary Herald, which branded him a ?Bollywood terror suspect.?

Speaking from Los Angeles, Dutt says, ?It was a long half-page article ripping my reputation into bits. I?ve never been more hurt in my life.?

Dutt is currently consulting lawyers in the US on how to best deal with this situation. Says he: ?Yes, I?ve decided to sue the Calgary Herald for defamation. Enough is enough. They?ve spoken about my Islamic links and called me a terrorist.

?Which journalistic ethic allows such liberties? How can they simply damn me this way? It isn?t as though any of the charges against me at home have been proven. I?ve full faith in our judiciary and I?m sure I?ll get justice.

But before I do, who gives this Canadian paper the right to condemn me so seriously? I went as a guest of the Canadian government. Ghar bulaye mehman ke saath aisa salooq nahin karte.?

Dutt left Calgary, where he was shooting for Anubhav Sinha?s Dus, and is now heading to Chicago. ?I believe it?s been reported in the Indian press that I left the shoot abruptly.

"Actually my shooting was over. But yes, I did leave much before I was supposed to. Why stay in a country where your credentials and integrity are questioned? I want to know one thing ? where in the world is an individual branded a terrorist until he?s proven guilty?

"I couldn?t believe the things written in Calgary Herald. They didn?t have basic facts about my case right. They said I was caught with ammunitions!

"I think the best decision I?ve taken is to sue the paper. I won?t allow my integrity to be questioned any more. I?ve had enough trial by the media.?
Dutt returns to India on August 18.

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