* The Bombay High Court today slapped a contempt notice on Marathi eveninger Apla Mahanagar for an article claiming to ``accept the challenge of justifying their earlier articles against Shiv Sena chief's daughter-in-law Smita Thackeray.''

Smita Thackeray, represented by senior advocate G E Vahanvati, had filed a Rs 11 crore suit against Mahanagar on November 20, objecting to the articles against her and other members of the Thackeray family. She has claimed damages from Mahanagar for carrying out a defamation campaign against the family. She alleged the paper was recycling the same libellous articles to defame the family.

When the suit came up for hearing before Justice D G Deshpande, Mahanagar was restrained from repeating the articles. But advocates Vahanvati and Milind Vasudeo today showed the court that two days after the suit was filed, the newspaper carried yet another article under the headline, ``Mahanagar has accepted Smita Thackeray's challenge.''

This article said news items published earlier about Smita were true and that the newspaper was ready to accept her challenge. It further said articles were part of the battle against corruption and abuse of power. But Justice Deshpande observed the publication of the latest article ``amounted to obstruction in judicial process.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.