A magistrate in Pune has ordered that copies of two novels on lives of Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram written by noted writer Anand Yadav be"destroyed". The complainant Jaisingh More had alleged the content was defamatory.

An order has been passed by the judicial magistrate (First Class) K P Jain. More had filed a complaint alleging that contents of the two novels "˜Santsurya Tukaram and Loksakha Dnyaneshwar"™ were defamatory and had no factual basis. More had filed the complaint against Yadav and publisher Mehta Publications and Yadav"™s daughter Swati Yadav who holds rights of the book.

Sunil Mehta of Mehta Publications told Newsline,"These two are novels. But the author has meticulously given references to all contents of both the books."

The court has said in the order that copies of the book be destroyed after the period given for the appeal.

Swati Yadav said,"We will appeal in higher court challenging this order of the court in Pune."

When contacted, Jaisingh More said,"The references made in the novel are baseless and defamatory to the great saints of Maharashtra. The court has fined the author and the publisher."