Druk Phuensum Tshopga (DPT) will not pay Bha- the monetary surety of Nu.75 Million- as demanded by the Special Adviser to the National Environment Commission, Dasho Paljor J. Dorji, popularly known as Dasho Benji.
DPT was presenting its second rebuttal statement to the Thimphu District Court, today.
Dasho Benji‘s Lawyer had insisted DPT pay the monetary surety if DPT feels that they are not seditious party, is corruption-free and has not usurped the Royal prerogatives, during the rebuttal statement presented to the court on December 11, 2014.
The demand for the execution of monetary surety by Dasho Benji is totally irrelevant to the present case, DPT justified.
Druk Phuensum Tshogpa had filed a libel lawsuit against Dasho Paljor J. Dorji, accusing him of posting a “defamatory” statement against DPT of “having robbed the country blind”, on Facebook in September, last year.
The party had however said it would drop the case if Dasho Benji is willing to publicly apologise. Today‘s rebuttal statement still says that the case will be withdrawn if Dasho apologises.
Dasho Benji’s Lawyer, on the other hand, said the rejection of Bha itself indicates that DPT is guilty of corruption, usurpation of Royal prerogatives and sedation. He also said Dasho Benji will not apologise to DPT and will fight for free speech.
The next hearing will be held on February 12.
