Sir Salman Rushdie will be at the High Court today for the settlement of a libel action he brought over allegations in a book written by a former policeman.

Ron Evans, a former Special Branch driver and a convicted fraudster, made a number of allegations in the book, On Her Majesty's Service. It was to have been published at the beginning of August, but was delayed after being serialised in The Mail on Sunday when Sir Salman first became aware of its contents.

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. Parts of the book have now been rewritten.

It is understood that 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.

Sir Salman and Ms West are both expected to attend the hearing before Mr Justice Teare.

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