Bengaluru: A city civil court has passed an exparte order restraining a Kolkata-based journalist and five other defendants, from publishing a ‘controversial’ book against the family of late ace singer Manna Dey, until next hearing.

“Having gone through the contents of the plaint, and the documents including the extracts of infringed book, I am of the view at this stage that there is an emergent situation and the very purpose of the suit will be defeated by delay. Therefore, in order to avoid multiplicity of proceedings, I proceed to pass the order,’’ Additional City Civil and Session Judge S K Vantigodi said in the order passed on February 13.

The petitioners – Shumita Deb, daughter of Manna Dey and her husband Jnan Ranjan Deb – had filed a petition before the court on February 6, seeking the court to prevent publishing the book.

In their petition, Deb alleged that Gautam Bhattacharya had written “malicious and defamatory contents” in an article published on October 28, 2013 and a book titled “Taradar Sesh Chitthi” (Star’s Last Letter).

Deb also alleged, in the petition, that Bhattacharya tried to incite people of West Bengal against the family.
Next hearing in the case will be held on April 11.