Guwahati, Aug. 14 -- The Gauhati High Court has quashed a criminal defamation case against former Asomiya Pratidin chief editor Hyder Hussain and printer and publisher Jatin Choudhury over a news report published in December 2010.

The case arose from a complaint filed by Dhrubajyoti Rava in North Lakhimpur on December 13, 2010. The Judicial Magistrate First Class took cognizance of the complaint under Sections 500, 501 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and issued summons to the petitioners.

The complaint related to a news report published on December 6, 2010, concerning alleged financial irregularities and administrative actions involving the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), Ghilamara Division.

The report re...