Eknath Shinde issued a legal notice to Sanjay Raut, demanding an apology within three days. Shinde claims that Raut made defamatory statements in the Saamna newspaper, alleging that money distributed in every constituency of Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha elections.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde sent a legal notice to Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction. This notice in response to a news article in which Raut claimed that money had been distributed during the Lok Sabha elections in each of Maharashtra’s constituencies.
In a recent article in Saamana, Raut also alleged that Shinde engaged in this distribution of money in an effort to prevent NCP leader Ajit Pawar, a coalition partner in the Maharashtra government, from winning.
The article claims that Shinde invested around Rs. 25 to Rs. 30 crore in every constituency during the recently finished Lok Sabha elections.
Eknath Shinde, through his legal representative Chirag Shah, has issued a notice demanding an unconditional apology from Sanjay Raut within three days of receiving the notice. Shinde warned that if Raut fails to comply, he will be compelled to initiate criminal and civil proceedings against both Raut and the newspaper he is associated with.
Furthermore, Shinde threatened to file a lawsuit seeking monetary damages from Raut and the newspaper.
The notice asserted,
“The statement in the newspaper is not only false but inherently defamatory and scandalous, with the intention to misguide and sow discord among the general public.”
The notice further asserted,
“It seems that you published the alleged defamatory news article with the aim of garnering recognition, prominence, and political advantage for yourself and your self-proclaimed leader, Shri Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray.”
Shinde issued a notice alleging that the defamatory news article published by Raut to gain name, fame, and political mileage for himself and his “so-called leader Shri Uddhav Balasaheb Thackrey.”
In the notice, Shinde reiterated that he had never spent or given any money as alleged by Raut, and challenged Raut to provide evidence to support his claims.
The notice states Raut’s defamatory news article attempted to tarnish Shinde’s image in the eyes of the public. It argues that under the guise of freedom of speech, Raut has defamed Shinde for his own political and selfish interests.
Raut, who received the notice, responded by calling it a “very interesting and one of the funny political documents.”
The notice stipulates a strict three-day deadline for Raut to retract his statements and apologize publicly, highlighting the seriousness with which Shinde’s camp treating the allegations.