Bagan laughs-off Bhutia's defamation charge

Mohun Bagan on Thursday ridiculed Bhaichung Bhutia's defamation charge against the club saying the Indian football captain has become a "laughing stock" in the bargain.

Reacting to Bhutia's claim of Rs 1 crore as damage for allegedly defaming him, Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said the footballer has dragged the case under the influence of a "few people".

"Bhutia is being misguided by different people from day one of the episode. The issue would not have come this far. Bhutia, in the bargain, has become a laughing stock," Mitra said.

Asked if the club was also asking for any claim from Bhutia, Mitra quipped, "We are not mad like him."

Bhutia made defamation claims of Rs 1 crore against Mohun Bagan for "damaging his reputation" before the arbitrator who was appointed by the AIFF to decide on the suspension row.

Bhutia, through his legal counsel Usha Nath Banerjee, made the claims before former additional Solicitor General Amarendra Sharan who held a hearing of both the sides in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Bhutia was suspended for six months without pay by Mohun Bagan in June for missing a few team training sessions and an exhibition match. He then appealed to the Indian Football Association to resolve the dispute but AIFF took up the matter.