Former TMC leader sends legal notice to Suvendu Adhikari over tweets | Kolkata - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Former TMC leader sends legal notice to Suvendu Adhikari over tweets

Jun 15, 2021 01:51 PM IST

The notice by former Trinamool leader Vinay Mishra alleges that the remarks in the BJP leader’s posts were false, malicious, and slanderous

Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Vinay Mishra, who is among the accused in the alleged cattle smuggling and coal mining scams in West Bengal, has sent a legal notice to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari for his social posts against the former on June 11.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. (File photo)
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. (File photo)

The notice sent through advocate Ayan Poddar alleged that the remarks in the posts were false, malicious, and slanderous.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Adhikari, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, refused to comment.

On June 11, Adhikari tweeted: “In year 2018 Vinay Mishra seems to be a Citizen of VANUATU and renouncing Indian citizenship. In year 2020 the same person is made the General Secretary of TMC Youth wing. Drawing the kind attention of ECI (Election Commission of India), Does Indian law permits a foreigner to be a part of a political party?”

Also Read | ‘Where are your 25 MLAs?,’ TMC MP Banerjee asks BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari

Poddar, in the notice to Adhikar, said Mishra left India on September 16, 2020, much before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against him.

“My client (Mishra) was a citizen of India when he was appointed as a General Secretary of the West Bengal Pradesh Trinamool Youth Congress Committee on July 23, 2020,” Poddar said. He added Mishra resigned from his post prior to surrendering his Indian citizenship on December 19, 2020.

Poddar said an Indian passport was issued to Mishra on September 5, 2018, and he did not hold citizenship in any other country in 2018.

“Be that as it may, I on behalf of my client call upon you to immediately delete the tweet published by you and abstain from any further acts of intentionally spreading lies and falsehood against my client. Furthermore, I have instructions to take appropriate steps against you for illegal acts which have resulted in a wrongful loss to my client and his reputation,” Poddar said.

The CBI is trying to locate Mishra through an Interpol red notice issued against him about two months ago. Reports suggest Mishra may have settled in Vanuatu, a small island nation in the South Pacific.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Mishra’s brother, Vikas, in March and attached his property.

The BJP has alleged that chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, was involved in the coal smuggling case. TMC and Banerjee have rejected the allegation.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On