The minister of state for housing Ravindra Waikar has slapped a defamation notice claiming Rs 10 crore as damage against Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam for levelling corruption charges agai
The minister of state for housing Ravindra Waikar has slapped a defamation notice claiming Rs 10 crore as damage against Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam for levelling corruption charges against him. Mr Nirupam had accused the minister of grabbing 20 acres land at Aarey colony and building an illegal construction on 305 meters of land.
In his notice, Mr Waikar has asked Mr Nirupam to give a public apology through all new channels that have aired his allegations. In the legal notice served through his lawyers, Mr Waikar has sought an unconditional apology from Mr Nirupam within 15 days. “Failing which, you will be liable to pay damages of Rs 10 crore for the act of defamaiton committed by you in addition to other claim and other liabilities,” Mr Waikar stated in the notice ,threatening to take civil as well as criminal action against the Congress leader.
Mr Nirupam had claimed last month that Mr Waikar had grabbed 20 acres of land at Aarey Colony on the pretext of building a gymnasium for tribals living there.
Mr Nirupam has also alleged that Shiv Samarth Shikshan Prasarak Sansta, which operates the gymnasium, was run by Mr Waikar’s wife and relatives and it was not a registered with the Public Trust Registration. He had further alleged that a two-storied building was built when the permission was given for only a one-storied gymnasium.
“There is no truth in Mr Nirupam’s allegations. I was out of country when he made those allegations. Otherwise I would have clarified things immediately,” Mr Waikar said adding that he would pursue legal action against Mr Nirupam.
However, the Congress termed Mr Waikar’s action as pressure tactics. “The notice sent by Mr Waikar is nothing but an attempt to threaten the complainant. Earlier, Eknath Khadse had also threatened to sue complainants when he faced allegations. Now Mr Waikar is following the same strategy. When a minister faces corruption charges, we accept fair investigation. But the ministers in BJP- Shiv Sena government try to threaten complainants,” Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said.
