DEFAMATION CASE FILED AGAINST MLA BACHCHU KADU

NAGPUR: The Amravati police on Saturday registered an offence of defamation against the former Maharashtra minister and independent legislator Bachchu Kadu for allegedly making derogatory statements against Ravi Rana, an MLA from Badnera in Amravati, known to have close ties to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Rajapeth police inspector Manish Thakre confirmed that a case under section 501 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for making defamatory remarks was registered based on a complaint lodged by one Sangita Wagh, president of Mahila Mukti Aghadi, an Amravatibased social organization.

On October 19, Rana had accused Kadu of taking “50 boxes” [Rs 50-crore] to go to Guwahati with Eknath Shinde, who led a rebellion against Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray leading to a split in the party in June.

Kadu responded a few days later by asking Rana to furnish evidence to justify his allegations by November 1 or “face the consequences”.

Kadu also made a statement on October 26, which the Mahila Mukti Aghadi, reportedly a social organization supported by Ravi Rana, took umbrage to.