Reliance Group slaps Rs 1,000 cr defamation notice on Nirupam

Reliance Group on Wednesday served defamation notice for Rs 1,000 cr to Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam for making false and baseless allegations. Further, they are also moving a contempt petition against Nirupam before Bombay High Court.

“Nirupam has made several false, frivolous and baseless allegations and defamatory statements on April 3, in relation to the proposed sale of Reliance Infrastructure’s integrated Mumbai Power business to Adani Transmission Ltd and linking the said sale with the purchase of Rafale fighter aircrafts by the Government of India from France,” read the notice.

Reliance Group asked Nirupam to withdraw the statements and apologise within 72 hours from the receipt of notice and desist from making any such statements concerning the Reliance Group.

Nirupam, in his defence, told Free Press Journal that he has made no defamatory statement, hence no question of apology. He stated, “I have simply demanded a total transparency in this deal and secondly, a surety from MERC that there will be no increase in the power tariff once Adani Transmission takes over Reliance Infrastructure.”

Nirupam added, as a Reliance Power consumer, he has the authority to question the deal. “Adani Transmission is a debt-ridden company of Rs 47,700 cr and is buying Rel Power company for Rs 18,000 cr, when it is valued at only Rs 5750 cr. I wish to know which bank will fund this deal?” questioned Nirupam.