Sunday, February 13 2005 15:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Veteran CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet is likely to appear before a Magistrate in Mumbai, on February 17 in a defamation complaint filed by actor and former Censor Board Chief, Anupam Kher.

Kher has dragged Surjeet to Court for making allegations in a section of the media that he was an 'RSS man' and had saffronised the Censor Board in his capacity as its Chairman.

Earlier, after hearing Kher's counsel Majeed Memon, Metropolitan Magistrate C B Havelikar issued summons asking Surjeet to appear before him on February 17.

In all probability, Surjeet would appear on February 17 as the summons had been served on him by speed post in keeping with the court's directive, Memon said in Mumbai

Kher, who was unceremoniously removed as CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) Chairman on October 13, had filed a criminal complaint in the court of Magistrate C B Havelikar.

"I am an artist and do not belong to any party or ideology. Falsely linking me with any political organisation is a blot on my career," he had added.

Kher said Surjeet had written an article in CPM journal 'People's Democracy' in which he had alleged that pro-RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) communal elements, appointed by the previous NDA (National Democratic Alliance) regime, are occupying high positions in public institutions.

The actor alleged that the impugned article, 'Desaffronise our institutions - RSS men in key positions' suggested removal of such persons, including himself (Kher), from important posts. The accused described him as an RSS man and blamed him for initiating saffronising process in CBFC.