Kistnen Case: Ex-PM Proposes Amendments to Defamation Complaint

Former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has submitted amendments to his defamation lawsuit against Dr. Arvin Boolell, which was heard by the Master and Registrar on January 28. The amendments, presented through his legal team, representing significant changes to the original complaint.

One key proposal from Jugnauth is to prepend the title “Honourable” to Dr. Boolell’s name, acknowledging his current position as the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries.

Additionally, Jugnauth seeks to update how he is referred to in the documents by replacing the title “Prime Minister” with “Former Prime Minister” throughout the complaint.

Another notable amendment included the removal of a statement claiming that “Pravind Jugnauth commands the majority in the National Assembly,” a point deemed outdated by the complainant.

This defamation case is the outcome of allegations made by Boolell during a press conference on November 24, 2023, during which he accused Jugnauth of being involved in manipulating video recordings related to the Kistnen affair.

Jugnauth, describing himself as a victim of slander, argued that such accusations have severely damaged his reputation.

The lawsuit sought Rs 50 million in damages and has been postponed until February 20, 2024.

At that hearing, Me Faarzaad Sorefan, representing Dr. Boolell, is expected to present his stance on the proposed amendments.

Source: l’Express