Mhada to file defamation case against Ekta World, Anil Kapoor

Troubles mounted for actor Anil Kapoor and Ekta World developer, Ashok Mohanani, on Saturday with the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) deciding to file a defamation case against them after they "failed" to reply to a legal notice sent by Mhada.

Mhada had issued notice to Mr Mohanani for allegedly offering flats in Virar and Nashik at rates cheaper than those of Mhada, followed by Mr Kapoor endorsing the claims in an Ekta World advertisement in which he appeared. C.M. Wachasundar, legal advisor, Mhada, said, “Legal notice was issued to both Mr Kapoor and the developer in June, however, till date we have not received any reply. Now, Mhada has decided to file a defamation suit against them both. Along with the developer, we will also make Mr Kapoor a party as he endorsed the claims.”

This newspaper on July 3 had reported about Mhada issuing legal notice to Mr Kapoor for appearing in an advertisement for Ekta World, a construction firm that Mhada claimed had caused damage to its image and violated regulations of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).

Ekta World’s website too had uploaded a comparison of rates quoted by it and that by Mhada for flats in Virar. However, speaking to The Asian Age on July 2 he had said, “We are transparent and would like our customers to be aware and educated of the facts before they make a decision,” he said. n Turn to Page 6

After this newspaper’s July 3 report however, the developer refrained from comparing his project with MHADA in his advertisements published post July 3.

MHADA had asked the developer to stop advertisements comparing his projects with those of MHADA and had asked for the developer to tender an apology.

Bharat Bastewad, secretary, MHADA, said, “The developer has not tendered any apology nor has he bothered to reply to the legal notice sent by MHADA. Thus, we have now decided to file a defamation suit against him and have also mentioned the same in the answer to a legislative assembly question raised by a legislator in the legislative council.”

Professor Jogendra Kawade had raised the question in the legislative council during the monsoon session as to why MHADA had not taken any further action and merely sent legal notice.

When contacted, Mr Mohanani on Saturday said, “The information received is incorrect, inappropriate and misleading. The company has responded to the notice through our solicitors Wadia Ghandy.”

As regards Mr Kapoor, he did not answer calls made by this correspondent while a text message sent to him remained unanswered.