Cochin : Malayalam actor Dileep has filed a defamation case against the English daily newspaper The Times of India for publishing a story recently claiming that leading Malayalam Actor Dileep’s multiplex ”D Cinemaas” has been constructed on encroached land.
Dileep has sent a notice to The Times of India (TOI) saying the report is defamatory and has been published without checking facts and records. He said that the newspaper, “which is trying to find a market in Kerala,” has carried the story disregarding “the minimum standards of a good newspaper.”
“The paper published the report on 1st January without examining the facts and records and ‘The damage that the news report caused to the actor’s reputation and Goodwill is huge,’ the notice, issued through K. Ram Kumar, senior advocate of the Kerala High Court, said.
TOI had earlier reported on 1st January that the land on which the DCinemaas was originally constructed on encroached govt land, earlier, belonged to the Cochin royal family, which was later taken over by the Kerala government as “surplus land” citing an affidavit that was filed by an advocate in the High Court of Kerala alleging that the land in East Chalakkudy where the actor built DCinemaas belongs to the government and that it is permitted to be used only by the members of the royal family of Cochin.
Contradictory TOI’s story, Dileep has claimed in his notice that he had bought 92.9 percent of the land in 2006 from three private persons, Biju Philip, Augustine Paul and Saji.
The notice also pointed out that the Thrissur district collector also gave a report that said the location is not revenue land.
Dileep has warned that if the newspaper failed to give a proper reply in 10 days, the actor will precede with appropriate legal action.
Dileep had a grand inauguration of D Cinemaas on 18th December in Chalakuddy. The complex is equipped with three screens, which can accommodate 420 people at a time. The screens use latest technology in 3D and 3K projection and the multiplex has many facilities like food court.
