Salman Rushdie's libel case set for settlement today
26 Aug 2008, 1219 Hrs

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London, Aug 26 (ANI): Indian-British novelist Sir Salman Rushdie will be appearing today at the High Court for the settlement of a libel action he brought over allegations in a book written by a former cop.

A former Special Branch driver and a convicted fraudster, Ron Evans, made a number of allegations in the book, 'On Her Majesty's Service'.

The book was to have been published at the beginning of August, but was delayed after being serialised in The Mail when Sir Salman first became aware of its contents, reports TimesOnline.

John Blake Publishing Ltd pulped the 4,000 copies that were printed but never published after discovering that substantial parts of two chapters were untrue. Bits of the book have now been rewritten.

According to reports, the settlement of Sir Salman's libel action will include an admission by the publisher that some allegations in the first version of the book were untrue, although Sir Salman is not claiming any damages. The original book included false claims that the security officers who guarded Sir Salman after a fatwa was declared against him once locked him in a cupboard and went for a drink, and that his third wife, Elizabeth West, married him for his money. (ANI)