The Kerala High Court on Friday restrained DC Books from publishing, selling, or circulating the book “Amritanandamayi Math, the revelations of a saintly lady” for three months.
Justice V Chitambaresh issued the interim order while admitting a petition by Sreejith Krishnan of Peroor and B Premkumar of Thiruvalla, challenging the decision of a court in Thiruvalla, which returned a plea seeking to restrain DC Books from publishing the book.The suit filed by the petitioners in the Sub-court, Thiruvalla, was returned to them, saying that it was not maintainable in that court.
The HC also issued notices to Ravi Deecee of DC Books and John Brittas, Managing Director of Kairali TV, who interviewed an estranged disciple of Mata Amritanandamayi.
The petitioners submitted that there were some insidious elements eager to tarnish the spiritual image of Mata Amritanandamayi and the Math, and thereby to tarnish the Hindu religion.
They cited that John Brittas conducted an interview with Gail Tredwell, an estranged disciple of Mata Amritanandamayi, and aired it on the Kairali and People TV channels. Subsequently, DC Books published the interview, along with the contents of the book written by Gail Tredwell.
‘Calculated Move’
The book contains defamatory imputations against Mata Amritanandamayi, with a view to make financial gains, the petitioners said.They alleged that the interview was the outcome of a calculated move by persons who are eager to defame Mata Amritanandamayi and the Indian spirituality founded on Hinduism.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A M Shaffique, dismissed a plea filed by Advocate Deepak Prakash on a petition seeking a directive to the CBI to register a case .