New Delhi: Soumendu Adhikari, former councillor and chairman of Contai municipality and the younger brother of West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari sent a defamation notice against Minister of Women and Child Development Shashi Panja over her “derogatory remarks” against the BJP leader.
According to Soumendu, his brother was allegedly defamed by Shashi Panja who said that Suvendu Adhikari had recommended the job of 55 applicants, including some people who were “close” to Adhikari, who had instructed that they be recruited for government jobs.
Soumendu sent the legal notice to Shashi Panja for allegedly making the remarks against his brother at a press conference on March 14. He mentioned in the notice that the minister should tender an unconditional apology for making such misleading remarks and that she should refrain from making such unfounded allegations in future.
The notice also mentions that Panja should tender the apology and issue a corrigendum within 72 hours and if not, legal action would be taken against her.
“The said comments made through press conference which is circulated all over West Bengal and you (Shashi Panja) having a big motive to damage the image of my client's elder brother as also other members of the family, including my client…,” the notice reads.
“In the light of oblique and tainted comments and disparaging remarks circulated by you… I call upon you to immediately desist from making such misleading, unsubstantiated, ill- motivated comments, statements and allegations… publish an unconditional apology for making such misleading and motivated story…and issue a corrigendum clarifying the correct fact on all your platform within 72 hours,” the legal notice reads.
Meanwhile, Soumendu Adhikari was summoned by Kanthi Police on March 9 as a witness in a case pertaining to corruption in Kanthi municipality.
According to reports, when Soumendu was the chairman of the Kanthi municipality, a tender was floated for development of roads in the area. However, a local resident complaint that work was not done properly despite funds being allocated for the project.