Ishtiaq Ishaq Pathan alias Babu Pathan filed a defamation suit against Ajay B Desai, president of the SDBA, under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, stating that Desai had made allegations against him which had hurt his sentiments and depicted him in bad light.

``This is the first time in history that a member of the bar association has filed a defamation suit against the president, but I had to do so as there was no other alternative,'' Babu Pathan said on Wednesday evening.

Matters between Desai and Pathan -- both practicing advocates here -- took a turn for the worse on November 3, when Pathan paid Rs 40 to a court clerk, Seema Waghani, for copies of a document. However, Pathan later approached the court saying that the woman had taken Rs 40 as bribe, after which she was transferred to the Mandvi court.

SDBA president Ajay Desai, however, issued notices to Pathan and another advocate Asif Shaikh stating that they had bribed the clerk by giving the money. He also brought up the issue at the bar council meeting, which according to Pathan damaged his reputation in the SDBA.

SDBA president Ajay Desai was out of town and could not be reached. Pathan has filed the suit in the Third Civil Judicial Magistrate at the district and sessions court here.