In a major relief for Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar, a defamation complaint filed against him over his 2021 comparison of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with the Taliban has been withdrawn.

The complainant, Mumbai-based lawyer Santosh Dubey, who claimed to be a member of the Rastriya Swayamsevak (RSS), informed the Mulund Magistrate Court on November 8 that “the case has been settled between the parties through mediation”.

Following Dubey’s plea, the court disposed of the case and acquitted Akhtar of charges under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with defamation, with a maximum sentence of two years.

The controversy began when Akhtar, during a television interview in 2021, compared the RSS to the Taliban.

Dubey initially issued a legal notice to Akhtar, demanding an unconditional written apology and threatening to seek damages of Rs 100 crore if the statements were not retracted.

When Akhtar did not comply, Dubey filed a criminal defamation complaint in 2022.

The Magistrate Court issued a summons and Akhtar later challenged it in the Mumbai Sessions Court.

However, the The Sessions Court admitted the summons in March 2023noting that Dubey’s reputation was damaged among his friends and clients due to Akhtar’s comments linking the ideology of the RSS to that of the Taliban.

After several adjournments, Dubey appeared in court last week and asked for the complaint to be withdrawn, stating that the matter had been resolved through mediation.

The court then closed the case, granting Akhtar immunity from further legal proceedings.