Unconditional apology tendered to apex court published widely: IMA president to SC
Indian Medical Association (IMA) president R V Asokan told the Supreme Court on Tuesday his unconditional apology to the apex court over his «damaging» statements in an interview to PTI, where he had answered queries about Patanjali Ayurved Ltd's misleading advertisements case, has been published in various publications. The IMA's counsel told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta that his unconditional apology has been published in the association's monthly publication, on the IMA's website, as also by PTI.
«Last time, I (Asokan) had submitted an affidavit of apology. Your lordships were of the opinion that the apology should be given proper publicity like the interview...,» senior advocate P S Patwalia, appearing for the IMA, told the bench.
He said the IMA has a monthly publication, and on its first page, a full page advertisement says that Asokan has apologised, expressed regret to the apex court and has submitted his affidavit tendering unconditional apology.
Patwalia said if the IMA's website is opened, the apology comes immediately as a pop-up.
«Third, I have sent the apology to the PTI news. PTI has published it,» he said, adding that the same has been shared with other media houses as well.
«Where is your publication in PTI?» Justice Kohli asked Patwalia, who then referred to the news published by PTI.
«The deponent (Asokan) has also conveyed his unconditional apology and regret expressed to this court in the deponent's affidavit to the same news agency to whom the interview had been given
