JUDGMENT

1. Heard. ADMIT. By consent, the matter is taken up for final disposal.

2. By invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, this application takes an exception to the order of the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Yavatmal directing to issue process under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code in R.C.C. No. 614 of 2017. Applicant no.1 Vijay Darda is the Chairman of Lokmat Media Private Limited (Lokmat Newspaper (P) Ltd.) whilst applicant no. 2 Rajendra Darda is an Editor-in-chief of Lokmat Media. Lokmat group is publishing a daily newspaper having wide circulation in the State of Maharashtra. The nonapplicant (complainant) was aggrieved by a news item published in the daily edition of 'Lokmat' dated 20.05.2016. It is the complainant's case that the applicants have published a false and frivolous news item in connivance with the co-accused with the sole intention of humiliating him, which has lowered his image in society.

3. Accordingly, the non-applicant lodged a private complaint in the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Yavatmal against the applicants and others alleging that they have committed an offence punishabl